“Why do some people have dry eyes?”

Dry eye can have multiple causes. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis. A complete ophthalmologic exam should be performed.

Dry eye is typically related to a problem with the tear layer of the eyes, most often insufficiency of the amount of tears. More recent research has implicated low levels of inflammation of the conjunctiva and related structures. There are some very effective treatments for dry eye. The drying of the eyelid skin is not caused by lack of tears and is probably related to some other source. An evaluation is likely to reveal the source and your eye specialist can then recommend appropriate therapy.

You are completely right! when people get older, the same way they get dry skin, they may get dry eye, since the oil glands on the lid margin do not work like a young person, so the tear is lacking proper oil. You need to supplement the eye with some lubricant drops and ointments. Also with washing eyelids with baby shampoo and war compress, you make the glands to work better and make better tears.

There are multiple reasons for Dry Eye and the treatment differs for many of them.
Your Mother should be seen by an Ophthalmologist who specializes in the front surface of the eye. She/He could determine with testing whether her disorder is due to a condition that affects her whole body or just the eyes. She may need testing to determine if her tears are deficient of nutrients or if components are missing that allow for rapid evaporation.

Dry Eye can be a hereditary disorder which might affect her children and grandchildren. A cure for Mom might make for an easier time for you and your kids.

It’s worth taking her to her Ophthalmologist for evaluation and treatment.

Roger Ohanesian MD
Harvard Eye Associates

Any disease will have a time of onset, and a common question physicians face is why did this happen to me? Tears are a combination of salty liquid, mucin (a lubricant), and oils which float on top of the tears and minimize evaporation. Older folks will notice that their skin is getting drier which changes the surface character and feel due to lower oils and moisturizing substances produced by the underlying tissue. Eyes have the same issue over the years with the final pathway being tears that are less voluminous, and which evaporate more readily due to lowered mucin and oils. It is more common in women and the symptoms are variable depending upon how serious it is and the tolerance of each patient. So, symptomatic dry eyes are distributed due to these characteristics and tolerance is quite variable. I don't know how old your mom is, but women have this problem more often. A combination of these problems for tears and for the skin around the eyes leads to what is happening to your mom. There is no cure, but lubricating eye drops and skin creams can attenuate the appearance and discomfort. Most of these treatments are over the counter, but there are some prescription medications also available although their effectiveness is variable. I assume she has seen an ophthalmologist and has been started on things to help with this.

There are many reasons that people have dry eyes. It is extremely common, and estimated to affect 1 in every 5 people. Some of the more common causes are blepharitis, allergies, side effects of medicines, drying environmental conditions. Remedies should always address the underlying cause. Preservative-free lubricant drops is a starting point in addressing the symptoms.

Dry eyes is due to many factors like hormonal issues, environmental, eyelid diseases, exposure to computers, handholds, infrequent blinking and inadequate fluid intake. Try to moisturise around her eyes, try frequently blinking, use artificial tears liberally. These measures will help but will not cure.

Thanks for your question. The cause of dry eyes is multi-factorial including age, hormones, oral medications, systemic diseases, environmental, nutritional and much more. Please consult with your ophthalmologist for a tailored approach to the care of your and your mother's eyes.