Age

Age is another factor for Dry Eye

As we age, many of our normal bodily functions slow down. The production of meibum, where the cells lining the tube of the meibomian gland die off and break down into oil, slows down as well.

Corneal sensitivity decreases with age, leading to aqueous deficiency.

Testosterone levels drop in both men and women, leading to aqueous deficiency and, eventually, blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

There is evidence that the elderly have higher numbers of demodex mites. Infrequent bathing among the elderly can contribute to flourishing demodex colonies leading to blepharitis.

References

Aging and dry eye disease
Juan Ding J, Sullivan DA.
Experimental Gerontology
2012 Jul; 47(7): 483–490. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2012.03.020
View the full report

Decreased corneal sensitivity in patients with dry eye
Bourcier T, Acosta MC, Borderie V, Borrás F, Gallar J, Bury T, Laroche L, Belmonte C.
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
2005 Jul;46(7):2341-5.
View the full report

Effects of age and dysfunction on human meibomian glands
Nien CJ, Massei S, Lin G, Nabavi C, Tao J, Brown DJ, Paugh JR, Jester JV.
Archives of ophthalmology
2011 Apr;129(4):462-9. doi: 10.1001/archophthalmol.2011.69.
View the full report

Sex hormones and the dry eye
Truong S, Cole N, Stapleton F, Golebiowski B.
Clinical & Experimental Optometry
2014 Jul;97(4):324-36. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12147. Epub 2014 Apr 1.
View the full report

Under the lash: demodex mites in human diseases
Lacey N, Kavanagh K, Tseng SC.
The Biochemist
2009 Aug 1;31(4):2-6
View the full report