Can Dry Eyes Signal a Deeper Health Issue?

Many people experience dry eyes over their lifetime. A healthy eye has an outer layer of protection made up of tears. The tear glands produce these tears regularly to protect the eye and keep it clean, comfortable, and moist. People whose eyes do not produce enough tears have this condition, referred to as dry eyes.
 

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Since this is a very common eye condition, it has a variety of causes. However, aging is one of the most significant causes since tear production reduces naturally with an increase in age. Also, although it affects both men and women, the most affected group is post-menopausal women.
 

Dry eyes can also result from the following:

• Blinking poorly – People who stare at books and computer or phone screens for long periods have poor blinking habits.
• Medications – These can include antihistamines, tranquilizers, certain heart medications, birth control pills, diuretics, etc.
• Illness – Examples here include scleroderma, Graves’ disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, etc.
• Wearing contact lenses.
• Spending extended periods in dry environments.

When Dry Eyes Is Signaling a Deeper Health Issue

Managing dry eyes is relatively easy, as the treatment’s objective is wetting the eye. Not treating the condition is dangerous, as it can lead to corneal scarring or tissue damage. Eye doctors will usually prescribe artificial tears, anti-inflammatory medications, or antibiotics. They will also encourage patients to improve their working environments and check their diets.
 

Therefore, if the condition does not respond to these treatments, there is likely an underlying health issue. Some of the most common issues here include:
 

• Diabetes

Diabetes results from the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin or the body’s inability to use the produced insulin effectively. Studies show that over half of all diabetes patients experience dry eye syndrome.

The exact cause of dry eyes among patients with diabetes is unclear. However, researchers believe that diabetic retinopathy affects the functioning of the tear film.
 

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

RA is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system in patients attacks healthy body cells, and this causes inflammation. Well over 1.3 million Americans and close to 1% of the world population suffer from RA. Research reveals that over 70% of RA patients also suffer from dry eye syndrome.
 

• Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)

TED, an autoimmune disease, causes the inflammation of fatty tissue and eye muscles behind the eye. This often results in pushing the eye forward or swelling and reddening of the eyelids. TED affects approximately 3/100,000 males and 16/10,000 females. Eye doctors believe that dry eyes result from hormone changes and the exposure of the exophthalmos-related cornea.
 

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

This autoimmune disease is the most common form of lupus. The immune system attacks healthy tissue, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. SLE affects 0.15% of Americans. In a study that had 36 participants with SLE, 57% had dry eye syndrome.
 

Dermatological and Inflammatory Conditions

Dermatological patients with psoriasis and rosacea have a high chance of having dry eye disease. Also, patients with inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome display dry eye symptoms.
 

For more on the deeper issues related to dry eyes, visit Delta Eye Care at our office in Allen, Texas. Call (469) 250-2021 to schedule an appointment today.