Moisture is important for your eyes. You need tears to help keep your eyes stay smooth and wet, which protects them from infection and keeps your vision up at the top of its game. There are multiple reasons that your eyes might be dry.
Bad Tear Composition
If your tears are low quality, your eyes will be drier. It is weird to think that moisture could be “lower” in quality, as we usually just think of it as water, but your tears are more than just water. There is also an element of oil and mucus. If there is a problem with any of these layers or the balance between the three of them, your eyes can dry out.
Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina
If your body is literally unable to produce tears or that moisture, your eyes will also dry out. While this might sound crazy, think about it. Have you ever cried so much that no matter how much you wanted to, there were no tears left in your eyes? It sounds cheesy, but this is what can actually medically and permanently happen to you. This is called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and is more common in older people (especially women) and those who have had laser eye surgery or tear gland damage.
In the Blink of an Eye
Blinking is crucial to keeping your eye moist, as it is what spreads the tear solution over your eyes. But in some cases, blinking doesn’t work as well as it should. Whether you have a physical eyelid problem or a job that requires you to drive or read for a long time while blinking less often, irregular blinking can seriously contribute to Dry Eyes.
Other Causes
Other seemingly-random causes of dry eyes include various medications (especially those dealing with your hormones, such as hormone replacement therapy or antidepressants) and the obvious dry air or wind. Just as the outside elements like the wind or sun can dry out your skin, they can also dry out your eyes. You just need to boost your moisture in your eyes through eye drops or a different medical change.
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