Burning or stinging feeling in your eyes? Do they feel dry and uncomfortable? You may not be alone. Studies suggest that, in the United States, up to 7.8% of women aged 50 or older and 4.34% of men over the age of 50 experience symptoms of dry eye, a progressive eye disease.
The symptoms of dry eye vary in severity, but are most commonly described as dryness and overall eye discomfort, and may also include stinging, burning, a gritty feeling or episodes of blurred vision.
"A healthy ocular surface is a critical factor in eye health," says Marguerite McDonald, MD, of Ophthalmic Consultants, Long Island, New York. "When that surface becomes irritated or damaged, it activates an inflammatory response that results in the common symptoms of this disease. It's really not something to be ignored."
Age is recognized as one of the various risk factors of dry eye, but it's not the only factor when you consider that dry eye is one of the most common reasons why patients visit their eye doctors.
Risk factors for Dry Eye
Video displays, including computer screens and other devices, are part of everyday life for many people. But lengthy exposure to these devices may increase the risk of dry eye. For example, continuous work in front of a video display, such as a computer screen, decreases the frequency of blinking and contributes to dryness on the surface of the eye.
"People who spend a lot of time looking at a computer, tablet or smart phone may experience discomfort as a result of this activity and should consider talking to an eye care professional if symptoms continue or worsen," McDonald says.
As greater numbers of young people choose to use contact lenses to correct vision, the prevalence of dry eye in younger populations may become similar to what's currently observed in older populations.
Symptoms of dry eye are also common after laser surgery to correct vision impairments, with nearly half of people who had either PRK or LASIK vision surgery reporting symptoms of eye dryness for three months or more, according to a survey.
Certain medications, including antihistamines, benzodiazepine and antidepressants, have all been associated with dry eye.
Diagnosis and Treatment
So what should you do if you're experiencing these symptoms? An eye care professional can appropriately diagnose dry eye through a comprehensive eye exam, including testing of the ocular surface and tear quality assessment.
Talk to your eye care doctor for more information about the underlying causes of dry eye, as well as the signs and symptoms.
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