Senior Resource Specialist

When Marjory was driving, her eyes would water so much that sometimes she could not see the road. “My eyes were flooded with tears, she said, “and yet my eye doctor said I needed artificial tears.

It sounds like a contradiction, but a sizeable number of Americans know the experience of having “dry eyes” that are constantly wet. Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. It is a condition that has always been prevalent, particularly among persons age 65 and over, and it has become even more common among those who stare for long hours at a computer screen.

Tears are for more than crying. They bathe the surface of the eyes, keeping them moist, clean and free of infections. When your tear ducts are operating properly, you never notice this action, but if anything happens to disrupt it, you are likely to experience an itching, burning, gritty feeling, as if you have a small speck of dirt in your eye.

A tear is a mix of water for moisture, oils for lubrication, mucus, for spreading and antibodies and specials proteins that keep infection at bay. When a tear does not have enough of any of these components, it is unable to do its job of bathing and protecting the eye.

Dry eye syndrome is often associated with an allergy; a medication; hormone replacement therapy; skin diseases around the eyelids; long-term wear of contact lenses; a blockage in the glands of the eyelids; or infrequent blinking, or when you stare at a computer monitor or video screen for long periods; or a Vitamin A deficiency.

Risk factors: * Factors that make it more likely that you will experience dry eyes include: * Being older than 50.

* Being a woman, especially if they experience hormonal changes due to menopause. * Eating a diet that is low in vitamin A. * Wearing contact lenes. * Side effects of certain drugs like antihistamines. * Diseases that affect your ability to make tears, like Sjogren’s, rheumatoid arthritis and collagen vascular disease.

Dry Eye Prevention Tips * Avoid blowing air from hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioner or fans toward your eyes.

* The use of a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air. * Protect your eyes from drying wind by wearing wrap-around glasses outside. * Talk to your doctor about adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. * Take breaks during long tasks. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Or blink repeatedly several times to spread the tears evenly over your eyes. * Position your computer screen below eye level. If computer screen is above eye level, you’ll open your eyes wider to view the screen. When your computer screen is below eye level you won’t open your eyes as wide and this will slow the evaporation of your tears. * Stop smoking and avoid smoke.

Most cases are mild, and treatment consists of using artificial tears of other lubricating drops. But it’s important to have the guidance of an eye doctor. There are numerous products available, and they vary greatly in ingredients and viscosity. Be sure to follow the recommendations of your doctor as to which brand or type you should use as well as how frequently to use the drops.

Sources: Mayo Clinic; WebMD The Senior Resource Program is located at 445 Fairview, Suite 102, in Ponca City. The telephone number is 580382-9099. A direct email is Seniorresourcespc@outlook. com The Senior Resource Program is supported by the Clark Gerontology Fund, RSVP of Kay County, United Way of Ponca City and the Community Health Foundation of Ponca City. There is no charge for any of our services.