Have you ever woken up and felt like your eyes were really dry and itchy? Well, there could be a disturbing reason why.
While it’s not uncommon or serious for people to naturally have dry eyes, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon has pointed out an overlooked reason that could be causing it.
Research suggests that nearly 16 million people in the US are living with dry eye disease (DED).
This health condition is when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears simply evaporate too quickly, leaving you with symptoms including itching and soreness.
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From factors as common as windy conditions or looking at a computer screen for too long, to wearing contact lenses or even having certain autoimmune diseases, there are a slew of reasons why you could be suffering from dry eye.
However, there is another reason that you’ll wish you never heard of once you find out, so sorry in advance.
Dr. Ashley Brissette, a board-certified ophthalmologist and eye surgeon at Kelly Vision in New York City, told The New York Post that there could be a terrifying culprit - microscopic pests living in our lashes and brows.
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Known as eyelash mites or demodex, the tiny creatures live in our hair follicles, and in small numbers are actually perfectly normal.
They’re harmless and are a common part of the human microbiome - they only start to cause issues, including dry eyes, when their numbers become excessive.
And to make your skin crawl some more, they are said to measure around 0.4 millimeters long and they even mate on your face while you’re asleep.
An infestation can happen if you have a compromised immune system, certain skin conditions or even poor hygiene like sharing cosmetics, so keep your mascara firmly to yourself.
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Brisette told the publication: “While they are typically harmless and almost everyone has these, an overgrowth of these mites, which feed off of the bacteria that lives on our lashes, can lead to conditions like blepharitis, which causes eyelid inflammation, redness, dry eye, styes, itchy eyes and irritation.”
If you do get an infestation of the mites, they can cause crust on your eyelids, itching and redness, dry eye, and your lashes could even start falling out.
The health expert added: “The mites can cause distention of the eyelash follicle and cause natural lashes to fall out. This is the most distressing issue for most patients.”
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It can also cause styes, which are painful red lumps that form on or inside the eyelid and can take weeks to go away.
When you have a mite infestation, your eyelids can become inflamed, which in turn disrupts the function of the meibomian glands.
Meibomian glands produce the oily layer of your tear film and help keep your eyes lubricated, so when this is disrupted, you can end up with dry eyes.
So, how can I stop this from happening, you may be asking?
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Well, according to Healthline, your best bet is to make sure you never share mascara or any other makeup and cosmetic tools.
You should also opt for non-oily makeup and cosmetics and make sure to wash your face twice a day, also cleansing the eye area gently with water only.
And if you really want to make sure the pests are kept away,use eyelash wipes daily or scrub your lashes gently with baby shampoo and an eyelash brush as needed.
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Madison Burgess