Do you find that you have dry eyes while wearing contacts? Have your eyes been more irritated? These are signs that you may have dry eye.
It is important to figure out how dry eye impacts your life & when to seek treatment. Keep reading for some signs that it may be time for dry eye treatment!
What is dry eye?
When you have dry eyes, your eyes feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it may feel like your eyes are burning or stinging.
Environments can cause dry eye. Common environments include planes, air conditioning, or using digital devices. If you don’t want to develop dry eye, you need to know the causes and symptoms to avoid it.
Do you know the symptoms of dry eye?
When you have dry eyes, there are several symptoms that you should be aware of. This can include:
- heavy eyelids
- redness
- irritation
- blurry vision
- being sensitive to light
- a gritty feeling
- a sensation like something is in your eye when nothing is there
- itchy eyes.
For some people with dry eye, they may experience overproduction of tears. This happens because there is not enough moisture in your eye.
The tears produced are mostly water, and they do not coat the top of your eye properly. When the eyes produce tears, they should have three components: water, oil, and mucin.
With eyes that are overproducing tears, they are missing most of the other components. This is why they can’t coat the eye as they should.
What are the causes of dry eye?
There are many things that can cause of dry eye. For some individuals, it is a problem balancing your tear production system.
Also, dry eyes can be caused by a specific environment. An example is a strong air conditioner or heater being on, or exposure to wind or dry air and excess smoke.
Other causes can include:
- pregnancy
- aging
- prescription drug side effects
- conditions affecting your tear production
- diseases that cause inflammation of the skin and eyelids
- allergies
- temporary side effects of LASIK eye surgery.
What puts you at risk for dry eye?
There are many things that can put you at risk for dry eye. They are:
- Using digital devices too long and too often. When we look at screens for too long, we do not blink as much as we should. By not blinking enough, our eyes don’t get enough moisture.
- Using contact lenses
- Individuals who travel a lot by airplane can get dry eye due to dry air in the plane
- One of the many conditions that smoking is connected to is dry eye.
Are there different types of treatments for dry eye?
There are many different treatment options for dry eye. Some of the most common ones are:
Artificial Tears:
This option is good for minor cases connected to schoolwork, reading, and using a computer. Regular use of artificial tears can be a great solution.
Talk to your doctor about the best option because there are many different brands and types.
Steroid Eye Drops:
Doctors know it is important to treat inflammation while treating dry eye. Steroid eye drops may be prescribed if you have a case of dry eye that hasn’t responded to other treatments.
Prescription Eye Drops:
Your doctor may prescribe eye drops for your dry eye if they feel that artificial tears aren’t enough.
Tired of dealing with the agonizing symptoms of dry eye syndrome? Schedule an appointment at South Texas Eye Institute in San Antonio, TX! Haven’t you waited long enough?
