Dry Eye Care
Dry eye, sometimes referred to as ocular surface disease, may sound like a relatively trivial issue — but if you currently suffer from this syndrome, you know just how troubling it can be. Chronically dry eyes are not just uncomfortable; they can also interfere with your vision and eventually even cause serious eye damage. Tracking down the specific causes of your dry eye and finding the right solutions for lasting relief, requires professional aid from a trusted doctor. Your eye doctor at Family Eye Care has the necessary expertise to treat this annoying and potentially harmful condition.
Symptoms and Causes
The tear film that coats the surface of the eye contains three essential layers: a mucous layer, a water layer, and an oil layer. If your tears don’t contain the right balance of these substances, or if you just aren’t making enough tears, you may experience the telltale discomforts of dry eye. Dry eye symptoms include redness, itchiness, feelings of fatigue, blurred vision, watery eyes and/or a gritty “foreign body sensation” in the eye. But your dry eye worries aren’t limited to the symptoms. Left untreated, long-term dry eye can make the surface of the eye vulnerable to infections, foreign bodies, injuries and even corneal scarring.
Dry eyes may be caused or aggravated by numerous factors, including:
- Age, which naturally causes a decline in overall tear production
- Meibomian gland dysfunction, a problem afflicting the oil-producing glands inside the eyelid
- Systemic health problems such as immune system disorders that cause dryness
- Drying effects from medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, hypertension drugs etc.)
- Moving air from wind or an overhead fan
- Allergens or environmental pollutants
- Contact lens wear
- Spending too much time at the computer without a break (which causes the eyes to “forget” to blink regularly)
Treatment
Our doctors at Family Eye Care can track down the reason for your dry eye and prescribe the appropriate remedy. Analyzing your tear film volume and composition, for instance, can tell us whether your meibomian glands are malfunctioning or your body simply isn’t producing enough tears. Your eye doctor will also ask you about your health history, medications and lifestyle before recommending solutions such as:
- Artificial tears or gel-based eye drops
- Changes in your computer usage habits so your eyes can rehydrate themselves
- Changes in your medication regimen
- Medical treatment for underlying systemic problems
- Treatment to address blockages in the meibomian glands
- Special contact lenses that help your eyes retain moisture
- Avoiding fans and protecting the eyes against high winds or other irritants
Call Family Eye Care for Relief
Now that you understand both the potential hazards of dry eye and the methods available for overcoming it, take the next step of getting the dry eye relief you need at Family Eye Care. Call (863) 675-0761 to schedule an evaluation and treatment from your eye doctor at Family Eye Care!