What is dry eye disease?
Dry eye disease is a chronic condition where you don’t produce enough tears to nourish your eyes, or the tears you produce aren’t sufficient to properly lubricate your eyes.
Eyes produce tears to maintain the health of your eye’s surface and provide clear vision. Each time you blink, tears move across your cornea, providing nourishment and protection. Tears help wash away debris and irritants to keep the front of your eye clear and clean.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
With dry eye, you may experience the persistent feeling of having something in your eye. Other dry eye symptoms include:
- Burning
- Itching
- Eye irritation
- Blurred vision
- Excess watering
If left untreated, dry eye can result in corneal damage, infections, and vision impairments.
What are the risk factors for dry eye?
Dry eye can result from many factors, including:
- Age
- Allergies
- Certain medications
- Medical conditions
- Environmental conditions
Women may be at an increased risk for developing dry eye due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.
You may also be at an increased risk for the condition if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen. In many cases, too much screen time can result in a failure to blink correctly, which can impact tear production and lead to dry eye disease.
How is dry eye diagnosed?
Dr. Garcia performs a thorough eye exam and discusses your symptoms. He may also perform a test to measure the quality and amount of tears your eyes produce. Using a special strip of paper, Dr. Garcia touches it to your eye to measure the moisture content and quality.
What treatments are available for dry eye?
Dr. Garcia offers a variety of treatments to alleviate the discomfort of persistent dry eye. He may recommend treatments, such as artificial tears, to relieve mild symptoms of dry eye.
For more severe cases, Dr. Garcia may recommend prescription oral medications, eye drops, or ointments that increase your natural tear production.
In addition to treatment, Dr. Garcia also provides guidance to help prevent the recurrence of dry eye, including at-home eye care advice and reminders to drink plenty of water and reduce exposure to irritants.
To learn more about your dry eye treatment options, contact Bulls Eye Care by phone or book online today.
