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Why do my eye burn, itch or feel like they have sand in them?

Do your eyes ever burn, itch, or feel like they have sand or grit in them? You could be suffering from dry eyes, an under-recognized eye condition. Dry eye syndrome can be the culprit for anything from mild discomfort, especially in the evenings or early mornings, to fluctuating vision that often blurs for seconds to minutes, to significant pain and difficulty keeping the eyes open. It can also make it more difficult to wear contact lenses. While dry eye syndrome is seen in people of all ages, it is particularly common in women, those over the age of 50, those who smoke, and people who spend the majority of their days looking at computers. 

Dry eye syndrome has two types, lack of tear production and fast evaporation of tears. While there is no cure for this condition, there are many different treatments for each type of dry eye. In fact, some of those treatments have only recently become available. 

Author
Eye Physicians of Austin

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