Common Sources of Eye Dryness

bullet imagebullet imageJust about everyone will, from time to time, experience dryness of the eyes. While the condition can be uncomfortable and discomfiting, dry eyes are often temporary and nothing to worry about at all. When dryness persists for a long time, though, this is typically a signal to see an eye doctor.

There are two basic Kinds of Dry Eye that can be expected to last for weeks or more. The first is the result of a problem with the glands that are responsible for producing the particular mixture of natural chemicals and water that makes up the bulk of healthy tears. Although this condition is relatively rare, when it crops up it can do so either as a result of another, deeper problem, or simply because the glands have failed on their own.



The second common cause of eye dryness results when another set of glands in the eye become inflamed or swollen. Anything from bacterial infections to underlying issues of more fundamental sorts can cause this, but the symptoms are generally the same. While the eyes, in this case, will still produce enough tear to coat the eye in regular fashion, a lack of the oily substance normally produced by this separate set of glands will make that lubrication much less effective. Those who suffer from this kind of dryness will often feel what seems to be an appropriate amount of tear production, but attended by symptoms like scratchiness and discomfort that normally signal a lack of it.

While these two kinds of eye dryness account for most cases of the phenomenon between them, there are other factors that can lead to this problem. Many people who undergo eye surgery, for instance, will experience some eye dryness as they recover, although they will typically be furnished with eye drops to help mitigate the issue.

Even this source of eye dryness is becoming less widespread, thanks to the development of surgical techniques that are much less invasive. Those who undergo Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery, for example, will be less likely to experience such problems than those who opt for surgery of different sorts. While the best option for any given patient will vary, that advantage can easily prove to be an important one.