{"id":350,"date":"2015-03-25T13:51:03","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T13:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mednet-sites5.net\/wps\/hodgeseyecare2014.com\/?page_id=350"},"modified":"2018-05-09T20:03:19","modified_gmt":"2018-05-09T20:03:19","slug":"dry-eye","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hodgeseyecare.com\/eyeconditions-tucson\/dry-eye","title":{"rendered":"Dry Eye"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when the eyes are insufficiently moisturized, leading to itching, redness and pain from dry spots on the surface of the eye. The eyes may become dry and irritated because the tear ducts don\u2019t produce enough tears, or because the tears themselves have a chemical imbalance.<\/p>\n

Patients with this condition often experience irritating symptoms and can suffer from more serious vision damage if this condition is left untreated. It is important for patients with this condition to take special care of their eyes in order to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. Your doctor can diagnose dry eye after a thorough evaluation of your eye and tear production through a Schirmer tear test.<\/p>\n

Causes of Dry Eye<\/h3>\n

People usually begin experiencing dry eye symptoms as they age, but the condition can also result from certain medications, conditions or injuries. Dry eye tends to affect women more often than men, as the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy, menopause and with the effects of oral contraceptives can affect the consistency of tears. It is also more common in people over the age of 50. Other causes may include:<\/p>\n