The Different Kinds of Dry Eye

Are your eyes bothering you? You might have a disease called dry eye. But what is dry eye, and what causes it? Your optometrist in North Syracuse, NY, can go over everything about dry eye with you. But until then, here’s what you might want to know.

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a disease that affects the different layers of tears that cover the outermost layer of your eyes. When your tear layers are disrupted, you will begin to experience symptoms of dry eye.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might need to have a dry eye exam in North Syracuse, NY.

• Burning or stinging feeling in your eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Eye mucus
• Watery eyes, along with excess tear production

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears; your tears evaporate too quickly, or both. There are also certain risk factors that can lead to getting dry eye. For example, environmental factors, some medications, lifestyle, medical conditions, surgery, and getting older can all contribute to your getting dry eye disease.

The Different Kinds of Dry Eye

There are several kinds of dry eye disease.

• Aqueous Deficient

Aqueous deficient dry eye is when your eyes don’t make enough tears. This type of dry eye occurs when the upper outer corner of your eyes doesn’t make enough tears.

• Evaporative

Evaporative dry eye is when your tears evaporate too quickly. This type of dry eye occurs when the glands in your eyelids that make the outer, oily layer of your tear film aren’t working as they should.

• Mixed

Mixed dry eye is a combination of both aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye. This type of dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears, and your tear film is weak.

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