What Causes Eyes to Feel Dry?

Dry eye is a common problem with many different causes. It can range from an annoyance to a severe and continual discomfort. Before reaching for the eye drops, read these facts to get to the root of your problem.

Side Effects of Medication

• Antihistamines, antidepressants, Brimonidine, botox, diuretics, Xatalan and birth control pills are just a few examples of medications that can cause dry eyes. Treatments such as radiation can also cause dry eyes.

Eye Surgery

• Temporary dry eye is a common side effect of Lasik surgery. This happens because the nerves that stimulate tears are cut by the laser. Patients who experience dry eye before the surgery could have severe dry eye after and should inform their doctors so they can be treated properly.

Diseases

• Bell's Palsy, Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome and mumps are just a few examples of diseases that can cause eyes to feel dry.

Problems with Tear Ducts

• Infections in your lacrimal gland, and damages done to it are dry eye causes as well.

Air Conditions

• Air in airplanes, air conditioners and heating systems cause dry eye. It can also be caused by dry weather such as in a desert or even on a windy day (even though wind usually causes tearing). Whenever there isn't moisture in the air, eyes can become dry.

Contact Lens Use

• Contact lenses can absorb tears and cause eyes to feel irritated and dry. Contacts with polymers, a low water content, or RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) lenses are best to prevent this since they are formulated to prevent dry eye discomfort for the wearer.

Other Common Causes

• Old age, diabetes, menopause, recent surgery to the eye, Vitamin A deficiency and arthritis can also be causes. Straining your eyes by reading, using the computer or watching television excessively can cause dry eyes.