Why Dry Eye Symptoms Change with Age

If your eyes feel drier, grittier, or more irritated as you get older, you’re not imagining it. For many, dry eye symptoms often become more noticeable with age. Whether you’ve relied on over-the-counter drops for years or you’re only now noticing the signs, understanding why these symptoms worsen over time can help you make more informed choices about treatment.

At the office of Dr. W. John Murrell, a board-certified Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon in Amarillo, TX, dry eye care is tailored to your specific needs. With over 30 years of experience and advanced options like LipiFlow®, Dr. Murrell’s team helps patients manage dry eye at any stage of life.

What Happens to Your Eyes as You Age

Aging affects every part of your body. including your eyes. As you get older, several factors make it more likely that you’ll develop or notice dry eye symptoms:

• Reduced tear production: The lacrimal glands produce fewer tears as you age, especially after 50. This leads to a thinner tear film, which may evaporate more quickly or fail to fully coat the eye.
  
• Changes in eyelid function: Natural weakening of the muscles around your eyelids can interfere with blinking, which helps spread tears evenly across the eye surface.
  
• Hormonal changes: For women, menopause is a common trigger for dry eye symptoms due to a drop in estrogen levels, which affects tear quality.
  
• Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD): These tiny glands in your eyelids can become blocked over time, reducing the oil content in your tears. Without this oil layer, tears evaporate too quickly, causing evaporative dry eye.
  
• Medications and health conditions: As you age, you may take medications (such as antihistamines or blood pressure drugs) or develop conditions (such as diabetes or autoimmune diseases) that can contribute to dry eye.

Why Symptoms Can Escalate

Early symptoms, such as occasional burning or dryness, can become more frequent and disruptive. You may notice light sensitivity, blurry vision that improves when you blink, or difficulty wearing contact lenses. Over time, untreated dry eye can also lead to inflammation and damage to the eye surface.

Effective Treatment Options Are Available

Age-related dry eye isn’t something you have to just live with. In addition to eye drops, Dr. Murrell offers LipiFlow, an in-office treatment that uses heat and gentle massage to clear blocked Meibomian glands and restore healthy tear film. This approach addresses the underlying cause of dry eye rather than just the symptoms.

Talk to an Expert in Amarillo, TX

If your dry eye symptoms are becoming more frequent or bothersome as you age, it’s time to explore advanced care. Contact our office at (806) 351-1177 to schedule a consultation and find lasting relief.