Dry eye symptoms such as dry, irritated eyes, itchiness and burning, red eyes, can be quite annoying and distressing to many people. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an estimated 3.2 million women age 50 and over and over 1.68 million men age 50 and over are affected by this eye condition. This condition also affects a smaller percentage of young people. If you are concerned about this eye problem, the good news is that certain changes incorporated into your lifestyle in terms of work habits, diet and drinking a lot of water, can reduce dry eye.

The risk factors for dry eye are generally associated with the following: age, gender,diet, work habits, environmental factors and climate. According to the American Optometric Association, in the case of dry eyes, the eyes do not produce a sufficient amount of tears to lubricate and nourish the visual system.

 Women are more prone to this eye condition due to the fact that hormonal changes in the body contribute to a decrease in tear production. Other risk factors include the excessive consumption of caffeinated beverages such as coffee,sodas, smoking, and excessive close up work at the computer. Individuals living in cold and winter climates are also prone to this eye problem.