Dry Eyes Are a World Wide Problem For Millions of People

One of the most common eye problems in the world is dry eyes. In America over 33 million people across all age groups suffer from dried out eyes, and it is not something that only affects the old. You don't even have to have other eye complaints to suffer from it, it can be a condition all of its own.

So what exactly is it? Well, while it is called dry eyes, it can actually mean; eye dryness, irritation, burning or grittiness. Oddly enough it can even be caused by excessive eye tearing or watering which leads to dried out eyes.

There are certain environmental effects that can cause temporary dry eyes, such as windy weather conditions while being outside, or hot dry environments like a room with too much heating. These have simple solutions however, such as wearing protective sunglasses in the wind, or turning down dry heating.

More seriously however are when they are part of a more serious problem, and a side effect of an underlying issue. In some ways dry eyes are like the common cold, in that while anyone can get a runny nose and feel under the weather, in some cases it is a common side effect to many other health problems.

All health issues that alters the composition of the tear film, prevents proper distribution of tears, or reduces or prevents the production of tears will cause dry eye problems. There are certain health problems which are very obviously very detrimental to eye health, which have dry eye side effects such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren's Syndrome.

Sjogren's Syndrome is where your body's own immune system attacks and destroys the producers of tears and saliva, the exocrine glands. It is what is known as an autoimmune disorder, where you body has difficulty identifying what cells are itself, and so attacks them.

Women are over nine times more likely to suffer from Sjogren's Syndrome than me, and most of the people affected are more than 40 years old when they are diagnosed. This is due to hormonal changes around the time of menopause. However men are still at risk of the disorder, and it can start in anyone of any age group, from children to the elderly.

The symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome are dry eyes, mouth and nose, there can also be skin and vaginal dryness. Other areas of the body are also at risk due to the disorder, especially the blood vessels, pancreas and brain.

Unfortunately there is no known cure for the disorder, much like many other autoimmune diseases. As such while there is no cure, most of the treatments available are symptomatic. This means that they are used to treat the symptoms and increase quality of life and comfort in sufferers.

For dry eye symptoms caused by Sjogren's Syndrome, artificial tears are used. These act as a lubricant and are most often administered in the form of eye drops contained in a small bottle with a dropper. They are available without prescription from any chemist and in some cases opticians, as well as online eye care specialists.

For more information please visit the AMO Blink Intensive website.