It is a common condition nowadays in more than 50% of glaucoma patients and secondary to other causes. It causes many symptoms which in times could cause discomfort in the eyes as a response to the irritation on the surface of the eyes.

You might complain of tearing, fluctuating vision, or you feel like a grain of sand is stuck behind the eyelid. One of the common phrases is, “My eyes just don’t feel right; they bother me all the time.” Symptoms may be intermittent and possibly come and go, and they are bothersome.

Similar to glaucoma, dry eye syndrome becomes more common with aging. Women are more likely than men to have dry eyes.

Dry eye can be caused by many factors:

• Activities that reduce blinking such as prolonged reading or looking at smart devices i.e. phones, tablets and computer screens
• Inflammation of the eyelids
• Using glaucoma eye drops over a prolonged period of time
• Low humidity, wind, or forced air heating and air conditions
• Previous eye surgery
• Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome
• Medications such as antihistamines and antidepressants

Management of Dry Eyes

Treating the underlying cause is the first aspect of management then this is accompanied by other topical or systemic treatment.