Ever feel the displeasing sensation that something is stuck in your eye every time you blink, that you’re forced to scratch your eye to alleviate it but to no avail? There’s a term for that, and it’s called dysfunctional tear syndrome, more commonly known as dry eyes.
To keep the eye healthy, the lacrimal glands produce tears as a way to naturally lubricate the surface of the eye and prevent it from drying out. If your eye doesn’t make enough moisture, it gets irritated, causing redness, irritation, and even a watery sensation. This liquid discharge can be due to decreased tear production or increased evaporation known as evaporative dry eye.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
You may think that you have dry eyes, but first, here are some symptoms you need to look out for:
Gritty sensation, or the feeling that some particle is in your eye.
Redness and burning sensation of the eye.
Painful, uncomfortable feeling to wear contact lenses.
Sensitivity to light.
Excessive tearing, or evaporative dry eye.
Causes of Dry Eyes
While the most common causes of dry eyes are simply lack of tear production, too much screen time, and contact lens discomfort, there are many other reasons why dry eyes can manifest, which include:
Eyelid issues, such as blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction.
Certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and Sjögren’s syndrome.
Changes in hormonal levels due to the natural aging process.
Low humidity or dry climate, worse during summer.
Having refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK and PRK.
Diagnosing Dry Eyes
Typically, you can easily distinguish dry eyes based on the symptoms, especially if you’ve experienced it before.
To better determine and understand the cause, a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist is highly recommended to check on your eyelids and the surface of your eyes.
Treating Dry Eyes
If you have dry eyes, there are a few things you can do to improve your situation at home:
Drink plenty of water, especially when the weather is warm.
Lessen your screen time and take eye breaks if you’re working with a computer.
Have a humidifier in your room.
Get enough sleep, and wear an eye mask if necessary.
See a doctor for the most effective treatment.
While you can treat dry eyes easily, it’s still better to visit your eye doctor, particularly if you’re experiencing severe dry eyes, which might cause damage to your cornea.
Why choose Eyecare Deluxe for treating dry eyes?
At Eyecare Deluxe, patients in Davao Region have access to premium and state-of-the-art facilities and accommodating staff ready to take care of their ocular needs.
With extensive experience in optometry, Dr. Lareen Dawn Tan specializes in non-invasive treatments of dry eyes, such as fitting scleral lenses and thermal pulsation therapy that can provide comfort and relief to patients.
Schedule an appointment today!