Why Do I Have Dry Eye in One Eye?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Dry eye in one eye can happen when that eye doesn't make enough tears or loses them too quickly, often because of issues like a problem with its oil glands or local irritation.

Explanation

Our eyes need a special mix of water and oils to stay comfortable and clear. Tiny glands in our eyelids, called Meibomian glands, make oils that stop tears from drying up too fast. When one eye doesn’t get enough oil, the tears can evaporate quickly, leaving that eye feeling dry. Sometimes, this might happen in one eye because that eye has a minor problem, such as a blockage or a little injury, which can change how well it makes or holds its tears. Other times, things like dust or wind might affect one side more than the other. In some people, especially during changes like menopause, dry eye can also occur because the body makes fewer hormones that help keep the eye moist. If you notice that only one of your eyes is dry a lot, it’s a good idea to talk with an eye doctor. They can check your eye, suggest good eye drops or warm compresses, and help you find the best ways to keep your eye comfortable and healthy.

(References)

Sullivan DA, Sullivan BD, Evans JE, Schirra F, Yamagami H, Liu M, Richards SM, Suzuki T, Schaumberg DA, Sullivan RM, Dana MR. Androgen deficiency, Meibomian gland dysfunction, and evaporative dry eye. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Jun;966:211-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04217.x. PMID: 12114274.
Horwath-Winter J, Berghold A, Schmut O, Floegel I, Solhdju V, Bodner E, Schwantzer G, Haller-Schober EM. Evaluation of the clinical course of dry eye syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Oct;121(10):1364-8. doi: 10.1001/archopht.121.10.1364. PMID: 14557170.
Peck T, Olsakovsky L, Aggarwal S. Dry Eye Syndrome in Menopause and Perimenopausal Age Group. J Midlife Health. 2017 Apr-Jun;8(2):51-54. doi: 10.4103/jmh.JMH_41_17. PMID: 28706404; PMCID: PMC5496280.
Findlay Q, Reid K. Dry eye disease: when to treat and when to refer. Aust Prescr. 2018 Oct;41(5):160-163. doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2018.048. Epub 2018 Oct 1. PMID: 30410213; PMCID: PMC6202299.

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