Tears are essential for a healthy eye. When tears fail to serve their purpose, dry eye syndrome occurs. While most would think that tears are simply composed of water, they actually have additional substances mixed in to moisten and protect the eye. Among these are oil, mucus and antibodies. When these substances fail to be present or aren't enough in the tears that coat the eye, irritation and a burning sensation occur. These signal that the eyes have lost their moisture.

Dry eyes are also caused or aggravated by conditions aside from the lack of substance in natural tears. These causes usually lie in the environment or due to other factors like habits, eyewear or simply age. For these causes, dry eye syndrome occurs because the tear film is constantly dried out. When it comes to environmental factors, working long hours in an area with an air conditioner or living in a place with a dry climate can contribute to the drying of eyes.

Certain diseases or bodily conditions can cause the drying of eyes. A common one is aging, especially during menopause. This is because the body loses its ability to keep moist as it did in younger years. In some cases, structural problems make it hard for the eyelid to close properly, thus drying the eyes. As for diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, collagen vascular diseases and Sjogren's syndrome can affect the production of tears.

Common habits can also lead to eye dryness. Going for too long without blinking is a habit common among heavy computer users, TV watchers and readers. It also occurs when driving. When worn too long, contact lenses dry out the eye, which can lead to the syndrome developing.

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Serving the area of Southern California with eight locations from San Diego to Camarillo, NVISION Laser Eye Centers are trusted by both patients and doctors for eye care services. NVISION's Newport Beach location is a recognized leader among Orange County laser eye and refractive surgery centers. Its Medical Director, Dr. Thomas Tooma, has performed more than 100,000 LASIK and surgical vision correction procedures. The combination of collective experience from the staff and the eye center's technology contributes to NVISION's success in restoring 20/20 vision in clients.