However, in this condition, what causes the dry eye condition to develop has more to do with the medications used to treat hypertension than it does with the actual disease process. The two biggest classes of drugs that can cause dry eyes are beta blockers and diuretics. In addition, many patients who suffer from high blood pressure suffer from other medical problems such as diabetes, thyroid disease, or anxiety and depression, all of which increase the risk of developing dry eye syndrome.
This can also occur in women who use hormone replacement therapy and hormone-based birth control. Proteins that help make up the tear film are also known to decline as we get older. In addition, the volume of tears produced grows smaller. Furthermore, certain natural antibiotics and oxidative damage control proteins decline, creating an imbalance in the tear structure and dry eyes.
