For Jennifer Aniston, there are two more dry eyes in the house, which she does not want to see. The actress recently revealed that she has dry eyes.
Dry eye, which affects about 5 million Americans, causes discomfort and can interfere with daily activities like reading and watching TV. Aniston said she had been suffering from dry eye for years before being diagnosed and treated.
Here are three things we can learn from her experience.
What is dry eye? When the eyes don’t produce enough tears or the right quality of tears to keep the eyes healthy and comfortable, they develop dry eyes. Aniston complained that after reading the script, her eyes would feel irritated, itchy, and sometimes swollen, and felt worse. Other symptoms include stinging or burning eyes, excessive tearing, and discomfort when wearing contact lenses.
Who gets dry eyes? Dry eye can be caused by a variety of different biological and environmental factors, including hormonal changes in postmenopausal women, commonly used medications that reduce tear production (such as antihistamines, certain blood pressure medications, and antidepressants), and exposure to windy climates or air conditioning. Sometimes, dry eye is closely associated with certain autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Other times, a disease of the eyelid glands can lead to dry eyes.
How to treat dry eye? While Aniston has suffered symptoms for years with only temporary relief, dry eye is manageable, and discomfort can be lessened. Depending on the cause of dry eye, your eye doctor may use different methods to treat your condition. Treatment may include over-the-counter artificial tears, prescription drugs, nutritional supplements, or, in some cases, minor surgery. Your eye doctor can help guide you to the proper treatment.
