What Can You Do to Ease Dry Eyes?

Dry eye syndrome is a common occurrence. It often occurs during the winter season when the air is dry or when you put your eyes close to the air conditioner, causing the tears to evaporate from the eyes. However, your eyes can dry up due to other factors like age, hormonal imbalance, computer use, and laser eye surgery.

When you have dry eyes, you can experience pain, irritation, redness, and a burning sensation. But, at times, you may have excess tears flowing. This usually occurs when the body sends a distress signal to the brain when your eyes dry up to stimulate tear production. The body then sends a flood of tears to your eyes. These tears are, however, for moisture and lubrication.

What’s the Purpose of Tears?

Tears are important to your eye health as it moisturizes and lubricates the eyes. A tear, produced by special glands around the eyes, contains:

• Water for moisture
• Oils for lubrication
• Antibodies for fighting infections
• And, mucus that evens everything

What Can You Do?

If you have constant irritation, redness, pain, and a burning sensation, it is advisable to seek dry eye treatment near you. Our optometrist in Monterey will examine to identify the cause of the dry eye syndrome. If there is an underlying cause for the dry eyes like a pre-existing problem or medication, the doctor will treat the condition or change the dose of the medication and in the process treat dry eyes.

However, if there is another cause, you can try three things:

1. Use medication 

The eye doctor will prescribe one or more of these medications:

• Anti-inflammation drugs are available in either eye drops or ointment and help get rid of the inflammation in your eyes.
• Artificial tears are prescription-based, but you can get them from your local drug store. These tears are used to treat chronic or age-related dry eyes.
• Eye inserts. These work similar to artificial tears. Your doctor will insert tiny tubes between your eyelids and eyeball to lubricate the eyes.

2. Consider Eye Procedures

Medication, oftentimes, relives the dry eye symptoms. However, when they don’t work, the doctor may recommend other treatments like:

• Punctal occlusion or closing the tear duct. The doctor may close the tear ducts partially using the punctal plugs to prevent the tears from draining. If the tears stay for longer, the eyes will stay lubricated.
• Lipflow. The doctor will apply heat and pressure on the clogged glands to unclog them. These glands produce the oil used for lubrication and keep your tears from evaporating.

If you have low testosterone on the eyelids it can cause dry eyes. The doctor can recommend testosterone creams which help the oil glands to work better.

3.Try natural treatment and lifestyle adjustment

Natural treatments such as omega-3 supplements can help reduce inflammation in the eyes and overall body. You can try to massage your eyelids and use heat therapy to relieve symptoms.

Lifestyle change can come in handy in relieving symptoms:

• Add moisture to the air using a cool humidifier.
• If you suffer from tears evaporating too quickly, then wearing glasses can help prevent that.
• Blink often when reading or if you use a computer for extended periods.
• Avoid smoking
• Stay hydrated

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What Complications Can Arise from Dry Eyes?

Eye infections are the most common complication of dry eyes. Tears not only clean the eyes and remove any dirt, but they contain antibodies that help in fighting infections. You are also at an increased risk of developing eye inflammation and vision loss. Dry eyes can decrease your quality of life, and as such you need to seek a dry eye cure early to prevent these complications.

Q. Is Dry Eyes and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration Related?

No, they are not related and one does not increase the risk of the other, although there are people who suffer from both of these. Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration is a common eye disorder that mostly affects people over 50 years. There is no known cause, but genetics and the environment are said to increase the risk.

Some of the common symptoms of Dry AMD are increased blurriness, reduced central vision, and difficulty adjusting to low light levels among others. It is important to do a self-assessment check to determine if you have AMD. If you notice any changes in your vision, then seek dry macular degeneration treatment on time.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Eye ED Monterey for more information on dry eye syndrome and how you can prevent it.