Dry eyes? Wear sunglasses even when it's overcast and chilly! trends now
Should you regularly find yourself wiping away tears, you might not think to blame dry eyes — but that’s the most likely cause, and the remedy may be as simple as wearing sunglasses, even on a cloudy, wintry day.
Dry eyes, while already a frequent problem affecting up to 30 per cent of those aged over 50, is becoming increasingly common. There has been a 19 per cent increase in the numbers diagnosed with dry eyes in the previous 12 months, according to a recent survey of 2,000 people by eyecare specialist firm Thea UK.
As well as a gritty feeling, dry eyes — counterintuitively — lead to the overproduction of tears, which is the body’s way of trying to rehydrate the eye’s surface.
And while for some it’s just a slight irritation, severe cases can lead to impaired vision and irreversible eye damage, says Alex Ionides, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
Dry eyes, while already a frequent problem affecting up to 30 per cent of those aged over 50, is becoming increasingly common. There has been a 19 per cent increase in the numbers diagnosed with dry eyes in the previous 12 months, according to a recent survey of 2,000 people by eyecare specialist firm Thea UK
Dry eyes become increasingly common with age because ‘from the age of 50, the meibomian glands do not produce enough oily secretion to coat the cornea fully, which means the tears are not sealed in and are more likely to evaporate’, explains Mr Ionides
The eyes are usually lubricated by the tear film: the first layer is made up of what Mr Ionides likens to ‘transparent slime, which keeps the cornea [the clear outer surface of the eye] bathed in liquid’.
On top of this mucosal ‘slime’ is a watery layer of tears. This has antibacterial properties and helps keep the cornea in good health. On top of that is the upper oily layer produced by the meibomian glands (tiny glands in the eyelids), which seals the moisture in, preventing it from evaporating.
Dry eyes become increasingly common with age because ‘from the age of 50, the meibomian glands do not produce enough oily secretion to coat the cornea fully, which means the tears are not sealed in and are more likely to evaporate’, explains Mr Ionides.
People who have had laser eye surgery can also develop dry eyes, as the procedure can reduce the sensitivity of nerves in the surface of the eye, which would normally sense the need to produce tears
The condition is also common during the menopause, adds Nigel Kirkpatrick, a consultant ophthalmologist at Newmedica, a chain of NHS and private ophthalmology clinics.
‘The drop in oestrogen causes mucous membranes to dry out and glands produce less of the important
