{"id":7176,"date":"2023-01-20T06:55:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T11:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/?p=7176"},"modified":"2023-01-22T07:56:30","modified_gmt":"2023-01-22T12:56:30","slug":"how-dry-eye-am","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2023\/01\/how-dry-eye-am\/","title":{"rendered":"How Dry Eye Am"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve just spent a couple of hours on my computer, and the words on my screen are beginning to blur. I have something called dry eye disease (DED), as do quite a few of my friends. Sixteen million Americans have it, but it\u2019s particularly common among older people. Researchers say 15 percent of 70-somethings have dry eye, as do 20 percent of those, like me, who are over 80. <\/span><\/p>\n

What is dry eye? When you blink, a film of tears spreads across the surface of your eyes, moistening them and clearing away debris. Problems develop when the glands in your eyes stop producing enough tears, or the tears are poor quality or they\u2019re not staying on your eyes long enough. Anyone can get DED, but you\u2019re more at risk if you\u2019re older, female or wear contact lenses. (You\u2019ll find a fuller explanation <\/span>here<\/a>.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Blurry vision isn\u2019t the only symptom of DED. If your eyes feel scratchy or gritty, if they\u2019re red or they sting or burn, that could be dry eye. If you\u2019ve become unusually sensitive to light, your eyes are watery or there\u2019s mucus in or around them, those are symptoms too.<\/span><\/p>\n

All kinds of things can cause dry eye. Allergies and autoimmune disorders can do it, as can a whole host of medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants and diuretics. If you spend long periods, as I do, staring at a computer screen or smartphone, that can also give you DED, because while you\u2019re staring, you blink only about a third as often as usual. <\/span><\/p>\n

For a long time, doctors assumed dry eye was just a nuisance. I remember having a conversation with my eye doctor about it a few years ago, and neither of us took it seriously. She recommended over-the-counter eye drops and left it at that. Often, that\u2019s enough. But over the past 18 months, my problem has gotten worse, and there\u2019s also been a big change in attitudes. Both doctors and patients are now more aware of DED, and new treatments and medications have been approved.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s clear now that, though the disease can be mild and temporary, it can also become a chronic, debilitating problem. There\u2019s no permanent cure, and, if it\u2019s not treated, it can damage your cornea, though that\u2019s rare. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you suspect you have dry eye, and it seems to be a mild case, there are lots of ways to relieve symptoms. Doctors advise trying them one at a time, so you\u2019ll know what works and what doesn\u2019t. <\/span><\/p>\n