Salt Lake City is the No. 7 city out of 100 with the worst environmental conditions for dry eye sufferers, according to the New Jersey-based National Women's Health Resource Center.

Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce the right quantity or quality of tears. It affects one in 12 women over the age of 50. People with chronic dry eye wake up with dry, itchy eyes and blurred vision.

To compile the ranking, the group worked with data archived by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. It considered factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, altitude, pollutants and ocular allergens.

The goal is to raise awareness of dry eye because it is twice as common in women compared to men, especially postmenopausal women.

"It can absolutely destroy their lives," said Randall Olson, an ophthalmologist at the Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City. "It can impact their vision and even leave them legally blind."

The condition is more prevalent in Salt Lake City, Olson said, because of the altitude, dryness of the air and dust levels in the air.

"Women are twice as likely as men to suffer dry eye because of hormonal factors and related autoimmune disorders that disproportionately affect women," said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, executive director of the National Women's Health Resource Center. "It is a growing public health issue that people need to know more about."

Chronic dry eye occurs with changes to the health of tear-producing glands. The tear film can no longer provide enough protection to the surface of the eye. Dry eye can be a progressive disease and, if left untreated, it can lead to increased risk of infection and impaired vision.

Dry eye is one of the most common complaints eye doctors hear. Nearly 40 percent of Americans suffer from dry eye symptoms, which may include itching, irritation, light sensitivity, blurred vision and dryness. Those suffering from dry eye may have trouble with reading, work, driving at night and using a computer.

Medical factors also can aggravate dry eye, including hormonal changes from aging, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus and rosacea.

For the management of dry eye, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends education, environmental control and artificial tears, with medications and surgery considered if the severity increases. Artificial tears provide relief but do not address the underlying cause of dry eye disease.

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