How Do I Know If I Have Chronic Dry Eye or Just Temporary Discomfort?

Your eyes need tears to stay healthy. When you don’t produce enough tears or when your tears evaporate too quickly, you may experience dry eyes. Because dry eye is such a common issue, it’s easy to dismiss it as just a temporary discomfort that can get better with changes in daily habits. However, it can be a chronic or long-term condition, too. If that’s the case, then you need medical treatment. 

How Tears Work to Protect Our Eyes

You might think that you only produce tears when crying. But in reality, a film of tears spreads over your eyes each time you blink. 

As thin as this tear film is, it has three layers:

• An oily layer that keeps tears from evaporating too quickly

• A watery layer that cleans the eyes

• A mucous layer that helps spread the watery layer to keep the eyes moist 

Any disruption in your tear film can result in dry eyes. Symptoms include burning or stinging, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and mucus coming out of your eyes. Excessive tears can also be a sign of dry eyes because you produce more tears when the eyes are irritated. 

How to Know If Your Dry Eye Is Temporary

As mentioned earlier, temporary dry eyes can be resolved with changes in daily habits. But how do you know if it’s just a temporary discomfort?

The best thing to do is check when your dry eyes occur. Often, it’s just temporary if it happens when you:

• Wear your contacts for too long

• Are in windy, smoky, or dry places

• Use your gadgets for long periods 

These scenarios can disrupt your tear film. In particular, prolonged gadget use can reduce your blinking rate, which means the tear film has fewer opportunities to spread over the eyes. 

How to Know If Your Dry Eye Is Chronic

If nothing changes even when you address the causes above, you might have chronic dry eyes. It will also help to check your symptoms further. On top of the common symptoms, you may also experience:

• A scratchy feeling in your eyes

• Feelings of grit or that something is lodged in the eye

• A stringy eye excretion

• Sensitivity to wind, smoke, or dry environment

• Fatigued eyes or heavy eyelids 

What to Do If You Suspect Chronic Dry Eyes

Some possible causes of chronic dry eyes include conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease. Taking certain medicines can also result in dry eyes. Injuries or trauma to the eyes can also lead to dry eye symptoms. 

If you think you have chronic dry eyes, it’s best to seek consultation with a doctor. He or she can help determine why your eyes are constantly dry. This, in turn, helps you get the correct treatment. 

Do you have dry eye problems and want to address them properly? Visit Today's Vision Barker Cypress at our office in Cypress, Texas. You may also call (281) 758-3083 to schedule an appointment today.