Can Dry Eyes Cause Blindness?

Dry eyes are a frustrating problem. It's a constant stinging and burning sensation getting in the way of your everyday comfort. However, it's not just temporary irritation—dry eye leaves the eye's surface exposed to the outside air, which increases the risk of significant damage.

Though it's rare, dry eye can even lead to blindness or permanent vision damage. The eye struggles to flush away harmful particles like bacteria and dirt. If you deal with dry eyes, visit your optometrist to discuss dry eye treatment—it's a great way to find comfortable vision once more.

What Is Dry Eye?

Every time you blink, you spread a thin film of tears over your eyes. This film is responsible for helping the eye protect itself. It flushes away bacteria, dirt, dust, and debris to prevent potential problems.

This tear film is made up of three layers:

Mucus, which keeps the tear attached to the eye
Water, which helps the eye flush away contaminants and provides moisture
Oils, which prevent the tear from evaporating too quickly

These layers need a proper balance to keep the eye protected. However, if disrupted, the tears can't do their job. Instead of staying protected, the eye becomes inflamed and irritated. This is dry eye, an extremely common eye condition that feels like the surface of your eye is burning.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

The human eye is extremely sensitive. All kinds of potential factors—both internal and external—can cause this imbalance in your tear film. However, the most common causes of dry eye include:

Aging, particularly during hormonal changes like menopause
Environmental exposure to things like wind, smoke, or air conditioning
Regular or prolonged contact lens use
Certain medications, including antihistamines or decongestants
Autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome

Dietary changes or nutritional deficiencies can even set it off. This is why it's so important to visit an optometrist—to find relief, you'll first need to learn what's causing your symptoms.

What Does Dry Eye Feel Like?

The most obvious sign of dry eyes is a persistent stinging sensation. It may feel as though there's something trapped between the eyelid and eye, or like constant burning inflammation. Other symptoms of dry eye include:

Redness in the eyes
Sensitivity to light
Blurred vision
Fluctuating distortion
Excessive tearing
A gritty or sandy feeling

These symptoms quickly get in the way of everyday tasks. Reading, driving, working at a computer, and even watching television become more difficult. However, this condition isn't just about short-term irritation.

The Long-Term Risk of Dry Eye

Remember—dry eye leaves your eyes vulnerable and exposed to the outside air. Your eyes struggle to protect themselves against irritants and bacteria. They can't flush away these hazardous particles, which significantly increases the risk of:

Corneal scratches
Eye abrasions
Infections

This can cause inflammation, the formation of tiny scratches on the cornea, and even scarring in severe cases. This can cause permanent vision damage, and even total blindness if you aren’t careful You should visit your optometrist if you notice dry eyes—it helps preserve your future vision.

Dry Eye Treatments: What Are Your Options?

Finding the right treatment for dry eyes depends on the severity of your symptoms. Dry eye can be temporary or chronic, so you'll first need a proper diagnosis of what's causing your symptoms.

Usually, temporary dry eye symptoms can be effectively managed with: