Dry Eye Treatment
Dry eye syndrome (DES), also known as dry eye, is a condition where the surface of the eye lacks sufficient lubrication. It can cause discomfort, difficulty wearing contact lenses, and increase the risk of serious eye conditions.
Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye causes symptoms such as chronic dryness, scratchiness, and a burning sensation in your eyes. Although these symptoms are typically enough for your eye doctor to diagnose the condition, sometimes they may want to measure the amount of tears in your eyes using a Schirmer test.
Additionally, dry eye can cause watery eyes. This occurs because the excessive dryness stimulates the production of the watery component of your eye’s tears.
What Causes Dry Eye?
When the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate rapidly due to a chemical imbalance, this can lead to dry eye.
Dry eye can be caused by aging (especially over age 40), medication side effects, gender (women are more prone), and poor eyelid hygiene.
Environmental factors such as dry, dusty, or windy climates can also trigger dry eye, as can low humidity, air conditioning, and prolonged screen time. Additionally, certain diseases such as autoimmune diseases and long-term contact lens wear can also trigger this eye condition. Smoking and incomplete lid closure following blepharoplasty (a cosmetic surgery to eliminate droopy eyelids) has also been linked to dry eye.
Treatment For Dry Eye
Dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition that can be managed to alleviate symptoms such as dryness, scratchiness, and burning.
Some of our optometrists specialize in dry eye treatment and would love to find the best treatment for you.
Treatments include lubricating eye drops called artificial tears or prescription eye drops that stimulate tear production. Your eye doctor may also recommend punctal plugs — a small insert that slows tear drainage from the eye.
If you wear contact lenses, keep in mind that certain eye drops can’t be used while wearing lenses. You should always check in with your eye doctor before using any over-the-counter eye drops.
Wearing sunglasses is essential for protecting your eyes from the sun, wind, and dust, and a humidifier can alleviate the dryness caused by air conditioning or heating.
Warm compresses can also be used to treat meibomian gland dysfunction and combat dry eye. Nutritional supplements, increased water intake, and treating underlying eyelid disease can also help alleviate dry eye symptoms.
Should you be considering LASIK, you may need to treat your dry eye before having the procedure.
