Age To Lifestyle, This Is A Series Of Factors That Cause Dry Eyes

Illustration of dry eyes (Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

JAKARTA - Dry eyes are one of the problems with eye health that is often taken lightly and ignored. Even though if it is not addressed, dry eyes can interfere with activities and even reduce the quality of life.

Therefore, prevention of dry eyes needs to be done so as not to interfere with daily life. One way is to find out the various causes, so that everyone can be aware of them.

Dry eyes are a lot of causes, we say multifactoral," said an eye specialist, dr. Eka Octaviani Budiningtyas, SpM, when met in the Kebayoran Baru area, Jakarta, written Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

1. Factors of age

The aging process is the most common factor that can cause dry eyes. With age, the tear glands have decreased, so they cannot produce fluids optimally as before.

"Usually people over the age of 40, the risk of dry eye (dry eye) is higher, because there has started to be a degeneracy of the tear glands," he added.

2. Gender

Both men and women can actually get dry eyes. However, women are more susceptible to dry eyes than men, because of hormonal changes that occur especially ahead of the menopause.

Women are very more prone (vulnerable) to be exposed to dry eye. Hormones play a very important role in changes in our bodies," he said.

3. Diseases and the use of drugs

Another factor is chronic disease and the use of certain drugs. One of the diseases that is very influential on dry eyes is autoimmune disease.

One of the things that makes the eyes dry the most is autoimmune, that's called Sjogren's syndrome. If we have dry eyes, it's important to check if there is Sjogren's syndrome," explained doctor Eka.

"Then the use of routine medicines in chronic diseases such as allergic drugs, antihypertension drugs, antidepressants, it can also have side effects on dry eyes," he continued.

4. Use of contact lenses carelessly

The use of contact lenses, especially if done carelessly without proper care, can trigger dry eyes. Contact lensing can inhibit oxygen circulation to the surface of the corona, so that the eyes feel dry and sore that they can not be tested with regular test fluid.

"Using len's contact, if you don't drip frequently, your eyes dry. Because the lens contact makes hypoxia in the cinema," he said.

5. Lifestyle and environment

The lifestyle and everyday environment also have a big influence as a factor causing dry eyes. For example, exposure to dry air, air conditioning, direct sunlight, lack of liquid consumption and nutritious food.

Low omega-3 levels can dry out the eyes. So if we have dry eyes, it is usually recommended to drink omega-3," he continued.

The habit of staring at the screen for a long time both while working and watching entertainment through a device can also cause dry eyes.

"Those who like to watch Korean dramas, now if we are too focused on watching them, usually our frequency of flickering eyes will decrease (so that it triggers dry eyes)," concluded doctor Eka.