facts to know about chronic dry eye
Dry eye is about twice as
common in women than in men
2
There are two major subtypes of dry eye
1
Physical activity may improve symptoms of dry eye
4
Dry eye disease might
affect mental health
3
Lifestyle changes are only one part of dry eye treatment
5
Untreated dry eye can cause lasting damage to vision
6
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There are two categories of dry eye: aqueous-deficient or evaporative. Evaporative dry eye is much more common and occurs when a person's tears evaporate from their eyes too quickly. This happens if the body's meibomian glands do not produce enough oil. Aqueous-deficient dry eye occurs when a person's tear glands — the lacrimal glands — do not produce enough fluid.
There are two major
subtypes of dry eye
According to results from a 2017 study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, over
16 million people in the United States have dry eye disease, and women are diagnosed about twice
as often as men. This may be due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause or while taking hormonal birth control.
Dry eye is about twice as common in women than in men
Multiple studies have found a link between dry eye and mental health concerns, including depression and psychological stress. Symptoms of dry eye can be very bothersome, and many people do not know treatment is available. This is especially true for those who do not have an official diagnosis.
In addition, several treatment options for mental health conditions can cause dry eye as a side effect.
Dry eye disease might
affect mental health
Physical activity may be an important part of managing chronic dry eye. Aerobic exercise can increase tear production and reduce inflammation in the body, according to a 2022 study.
Another 2022 study found that aerobic exercise also helped improve tear film stability in people with dry eye.
Physical activity may improve symptoms of dry eye
Many environmental factors, including hot and dry weather, are known to worsen dry eye. However, certain medical conditions, medications, and procedures can also cause dry eye, so managing environmental factors will not always bring complete relief.
A person can work closely with a healthcare professional to ensure they are addressing all possible causes of their dry eye symptoms.
Lifestyle changes are only one part of dry eye treatment
Dry eye disease is progressive, which means it tends to worsen over time. If left untreated, severe cases can cause damage to the surface of the eyes, leading to blurry vision and vision loss. Treatment can reduce the risk of complications.
Untreated dry eye can cause lasting damage to vision
6
(lacrimal glands)
(meibomian glands)
Aqueous-deficienT
Evaporative