More boomer women experiencing chronic dry eye condition

You spend most of your day working on a computer, then step outside to hot, dry weather. Chances are good you suffer from dry eye. Make those chances very good if you are a boomer-age or older woman. Almost 21 million people in the United States, about two-thirds of them women, experience chronic dry eye, a condition that occurs when eyes don't produce the right quantity or quality of tears, says the nonprofit National Women's Health Resource Center, based in Red Bank, N.J.

"Dry eye is more common in women because of hormonal shifts," says Phoenix optometrist Robert Esposito of Advanced Vision and Achievement Centers. "As they go through menopause, their eyes often become drier."

Aging is a contributing factor for both sexes, with the condition occurring most frequently in people 40 and older. Environment, whether at work or at play, also is a factor, Esposito says, and studies bear out that observation.

The women's health group released a report this summer naming office jobs, many requiring prolonged computer use, as the work most likely to contribute to dry eye. Next are construction and manufacturing jobs, which expose workers to dust, allergens and wind.

Contact-lens users are especially vulnerable to dry eye, Esposito says, because the lenses draw moisture off the eyes.

The condition is more common in Hispanic and Asian women and in people with autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. People who take antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants and other medications are at higher risk, too.

Many dry-eye sufferers improve with over-the-counter drops to supplement their natural tears, Esposito says. He uses Blink and Refresh to lubricate his eyes while wearing contact lenses, and Systane and Optive when not wearing the lenses.

In more severe cases, he recommends Restasis, the only prescription eyedrop approved by the Food and Drug Administration for increasing tear production. It can take two to three months to work, he says.

Ignoring the symptoms - dryness, blurred vision, itching, sensitivity to light and irritation - can turn dry eye into more than just an uncomfortable nuisance.

"This is a health issue," Esposito says. "The cornea, which is the front surface of the eye, is responsible for two-thirds of our focusing power. If that dries out, it's like looking through a dirty windshield. The cornea becomes desiccated and brittle, and you end up with decreased vision."