Are you dealing with the frustrating symptoms of dry eye, like irritation, redness, and watery eyes? Dry eye treatment could help you get the relief you’ve been looking for.
While lifestyle changes like warm compresses and using artificial tears can help with mild dry eye, if you’re still experiencing discomfort, dry eye treatment can increase not only your comfort but your safety as well. Keep reading to learn more about why dry eye treatment is a must if you’re experiencing irritation.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye, also called dry eye syndrome, is a condition where your eyes aren’t getting the moisture they need to stay properly lubricated. This can happen if they aren’t making enough tears or if your tears are evaporating too quickly.
An imbalance in the tear film typically causes this dryness. When it’s missing one of its essential components (oil, water, and mucus), it cannot lubricate or protect your eyes as it’s meant to.
Am I at Risk of Developing Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a very common eye condition that anyone can develop regardless of age and medical history. However, certain risk factors can make you more prone to dry eye, including:
- Taking certain medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, beta-blockers, sleeping pills, and heartburn medications
- Being older than 50, as tear production tends to decrease with age
- Being a woman, with increased risk after menopause
- Having eye conditions like blepharitis, entropion, or ectropion
- Having ocular rosacea
- A history of vision correction procedures like LASIK
- Having certain thyroid or autoimmune conditions
- Wearing contact lenses
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?
Besides experiencing dry eyes, common symptoms of dry eye include:
- Irritation, stinging, or burning
- Excessively watery eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Eye fatigue
- Redness
- Feeling like there’s something in your eye
- Discomfort wearing contacts
- Blurry vision
- Mucus in or around the eyes
What Things Can Worsen Dry Eye Symptoms?
If you are experiencing dry eye, certain things can worsen your condition, including:
Excessive Screen Use
When your eyes are focused on a screen, it can reduce how often you blink. Since blinking spreads fresh tears across your eyes, overuse of digital devices can lead to increased dryness and irritation.
Wearing Contacts
Contacts are known to cause or increase symptoms of dry eye. This is because they cut off your cornea from the air, limiting oxygen flow to your eye’s surface.
Reduced oxygen can disrupt your natural tear production and worsen dry eye symptoms.
Wearing Eye Makeup
Wearing makeup like eyeliner and mascara can cause blockages in your meibomian glands, preventing them from producing the oils you need to maintain a stable tear film.
Allergies
Seasonal allergens like pollen can cause significant inflammation in the meibomian glands, leading to decreased oil production that results in an unstable tear film.
When to Seek Dry Eye Treatment
If you are experiencing dry eye symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at South Texas Eye Institute. They can perform a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose your condition and recommend treatment.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, they may recommend at-home practices before opting for more advanced treatments. Some of these lifestyle changes may include:
- Using a humidifier in dry areas
- Reducing screen time
- Drinking more water
- Eating more omega-3 fatty acids
- Applying a warm compress
- Using over-the-counter artificial tears
- Switching to glasses if you wear contacts
However, if these lifestyle changes don’t improve your symptoms, it’s important to seek further treatment with your eye doctor.
What Happens if You Don’t Treat Dry Eye?
Besides dealing with the irritating symptoms of the condition, untreated dry eye can actually pose a risk to your eye health and vision. Patients with dry eye are more prone to eye infections because they lack a healthy tear film to protect their eyes.
Severe cases of dry eye can also lead to inflammation, corneal abrasions, and corneal ulcers. These complications could potentially lead to vision loss, meaning it’s essential to treat dry eye to preserve the health of your eyes.
What Dry Eye Treatments Are Available at South Texas Eye Institute?
Your eye doctor at South Texas Eye Institute may recommend different treatment options depending on your condition and preferences, such as:
Prescription Eye Drops
Prescription eye drops can help treat dry eye by reducing inflammation and allowing your tear glands to produce more and better quality tears. They typically require twice daily application.
Ointments
For patients who experience dry eyes with sleep, you may be prescribed an ointment that provides thicker lubrication.
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are tiny plugs that can be placed into the tear drain of your eyelid to increase moisture in your eyes. Your eye doctor can place them with a quick procedure with minimal to no discomfort.
Some are temporary, meaning they will dissolve on their own, while some can stay in your tear drain permanently.
Are you ready to get relief from irritation with dry eye treatments? Schedule an appointment at South Texas Eye Institute in San Antonio, TX, today!
