Table of Contents
Introduction
Dry eye is quite common. It’s a condition affecting millions of people that can cause constant discomfort, irritated eyes, and blurry eyesight. Many people struggle with this dryness condition as they have no real understanding of its causes. Dry eye makes our everyday activities like reading, looking at electronic screens, or using contact lenses quite frustrating. By recognizing its causes, symptoms, and risk factors, you will be taking a huge leap in managing it as well as protecting your eye health now and into the future.
Here at Golden Vision, our personalized methods help patients find lasting relief from dry eye. We use advanced diagnostic tools and personalized treatment plans. We also look for the root causes of eye dryness. Some of the tools we use can be prescription eye drops, in-house therapies, or simply recommending a few lifestyle changes. Here in this guide, we’ll point out the main aspects of dry eye and explain the ways our team can help you get back the comfort and clarity of vision you once enjoyed.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome and How Does It Affect Your Eyes?
Dry Eye Syndrome is quite common. It’s a condition that occurs because eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears that are produced evaporate too fast. Tears are necessary to keep the surface of our eyes smooth, clear, and lubricated. When tear production is disrupted, eyes feel dry, gritty, or irritated. Vision can become blurry, or you may feel discomfort that gets worse with the passage of time. There are two main kinds of dry eye: aqueous-deficient, in which the eyes just don’t produce enough tears. The other type of dry eye is called evaporative. With this type, tears that are produced evaporate too quickly. This can happen either because of poor tear quality or blocked oil glands.
This condition affects people of all ages. However, it is more commonly seen with older adults, people who wear contact lenses, or people who spend a long time looking at their electronic screens. There are some environmental factors, such as wind, air conditioning, or living in areas with dry climates, that are likely to make the symptoms worse and can impact a person’s eyesight and their overall eye health. Once you understand the way that dry eye affects your eyes, you will be taking the first step towards finding relief and improved eye comfort.
What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Syndrome is a condition that is caused by low tear production or because the tears that are produced seem to evaporate too fast. This causes discomfort and irritated eyes. Once you have an understanding of its causes, we can help you prevent it or manage the symptoms that you do have. Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome are usually a combination of medical, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Common Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome:
- Aging: People produce fewer tears as they get older.
- Hormonal changes: Mainly during menopause for women.
- Medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure drugs can lessen the production of tears.
- Medical conditions: Diabetes, thyroid issues, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome.
- Environmental factors: Dry air zones, wind, smoke, and air conditioning can all make the dryness even worse.
- Lifestyle factors: Looking at electronic screens lessens blinking, which increases the evaporation of tears.
- Meibomian gland dysfunction:. Glands in the eyelids that produce oil fail at keeping tears from evaporating too fast.
Once the causes of dry eye are pointed out and treated, you are taking a huge step towards relief from the symptoms and preserving your long-term vision health.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Dry Eye?
Common symptoms of Dry Eye affect people in different ways. The symptoms can be mild irritation, but they can also be very uncomfortable, affecting one’s daily life. By becoming aware of the common signs early on, you can get help with proper treatment that can prevent future complications.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eye:
- Feelings of eyes burning or stinging
- Itchiness or a sensation of scratching, as if there’s something in the eye
- Redness or eyes that look bloodshot
- Blurry or fluctuating eyesight
- An abundance of tearing that is a reflex to combat dryness
- Light sensitivity
- Sensation of grittiness or of sand in the eyes
To keep eyes comfortable and healthy, an awareness of these symptoms is key. If you’re experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, it’s a sign that it’s time for an eye exam. We can help find the root cause and provide you with excellent treatment options to bring you lasting relief.
How Can You Find Relief from Dry Eye Syndrome?
Getting relief usually starts with a few basic home remedies, such as using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops that help keep the eyes moistened all day. The application of warm compresses and gentle eyelid massage can help improve the function of the oil glands as well as lessen the evaporation of tears. A few basic lifestyle changes can also help with dryness, such as taking regular breaks from your screens, being sure to stay hydrated, and using a humidifier.
In more stubborn cases, it may be necessary to have professional treatment. Our eye doctors can prescribe eye drops, punctal plugs, or in-office therapies like LipoFlow or IPL that restore tear balance. Nutritional support and the use of omega-3 supplements can also improve the quality of tears. The combination of these approaches can bring long-term relief and protection of the eyes from additional irritation or damage.
Can Dry Eye Syndrome Be Prevented?
Yes, Dry Eye Syndrome can usually be prevented or lessened by following healthy eye practices and by making a few basic lifestyle changes. To maintain tear balance, take regular breaks from looking at your electronic screens, and blink a bit more often. When indoors, use a humidifier, and be sure to be well hydrated. By wearing protective eyewear outdoors, you can also lessen dryness. Finally, be sure to address any underlying health issues and manage the medications that affect tear production. Following a nutrient-rich diet with omega-3s will support your general eye health and prevent dry eye symptoms from ever starting.
How Golden Vision Can Help You Manage Dry Eye?
At Golden Vision, our experienced eye care professionals take a personally tailored approach to diagnose and treat dry eye. The advanced technology tools we use can identify the cause of your symptoms. From there, we can create a personally tailored plan for your particular needs. That plan might include prescription eye drops, simple lifestyle changes, or our in-office therapies.
Our goal is for you to find lasting relief from dry eye symptoms and improve your general eye comfort and health. Don’t put off taking control of your dry eye. Call us now to book your appointment so our team can help you see and feel your very best.