Ageing, or hormonal changes within the body, can cause or exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
In younger people it appears that the use of technology at work, or for leisure, can itself set off dry eye symptoms.
Some people have an auto-immune condition such as Sjogren’s syndrome giving them a dry mouth and eyes, often associated with arthritis.
Certain medications and surgery on the eye including laser treatment, inability to fully close the eyes, disorders of the eyelids and the oil glands within the lids and injury by chemicals can all also interfere with the natural tear film.
Recent studies show that up to 86% of patients with dry eyes have meibomian gland dysfunction with blocked glands, and particularly thick secretions, resulting in evaporative dry eye. The presence of abnormal blood vessels, under the eyelid skin, causes the release of inflammatory markers, resulting in meibomian gland dysfunction.