When the eyes are too dry and don't have enough of their tear film there to protect them, the condition is referred to as dry eye. If you think you have dry eye, contact our team at Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic to schedule an appointment in our Mankato or New Ulm office.

Causes of Dry Eye

There are normally three layers of tear film, and they work together to keep your eyes lubricated and comfortable. If you don't have that tear film intact, there can be many causes for it. It may be that you have had recent hormonal changes that disrupted the creation of that film, you may have eyelid glands that are inflamed, you may have allergies or there could be an autoimmune disease causing it. The problem is often that your tear production has decreased or that your tears are evaporating too fast due to their poor quality. Being around smoke, dry air, and not blinking often enough are typical causes of tears that dry up too quickly.

Who Gets Dry Eye?

This condition can happen to anyone, but some people have a higher risk of dry eye developing. For those over the age of 50, the production of tears often decreases, and this can put you at risk of dry eye. Women also have a higher risk of dry eye due to their hormone levels that change throughout their lives. If you don't consume enough vitamin A, this can lead to a decrease in one of the layers of tear film. If you have had refractive surgery or wear contacts, these are also risk factors for dry eye.

Contact Our Eye Doctors at Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic

If you suspect you might have this condition, call our eye doctors at Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic to make your appointment for an eye exam. Our eye doctor will diagnose you with dry eye if you have it and can suggest treatments to make your eyes more comfortable. Call our Mankato office today at 507-345-5087 or our New Ulm office at 507-354-7407.