3 Reasons That It May Be Time For Dry Eye Treatment
Do you feel an itching or burning sensation in your eyes? More than 16 million Americans experience the effects of dry eye syndrome.
In addition to irritation, symptoms include redness, blurry vision, light sensitivity, and excessive tearing. Keep reading to learn three reasons it may be time for dry eye treatment!
What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?
Your tear film is responsible for keeping your eyes lubricated. Dry eye syndrome occurs when your tear film cannot supply enough moisture to your eyes.
This can happen for a few different reasons. Usually, your body cannot produce enough tears, or your tears’ quality is insufficient.
Dry eye syndrome is often simply the result of aging, particularly in women. Other causes are also possible, from hormonal changes to certain underlying conditions.
Treatment is available, however, to restore lubrication and comfort. Because dry eyes are so common, it can be tricky to determine whether they warrant a visit to the eye doctor.
Here are three reasons it might be time to visit your eye doctor for help with your dry eye symptoms:
1. At-Home Treatments Aren’t Enough
There are a plethora of home remedies that can help to alleviate dry eye symptoms. Many individuals who experience dry eye syndrome find immense relief from continuous use of artificial tears.
Available over the counter, these drops can help replace the moisture that is missing from your eyes. Warm, damp compresses using a washcloth are another method of soothing dry eyes.
The combination of heat and moisture can aid the production of oil, an essential component of tears. They also help tears stay in the eye for longer.
Have you considered that the environment around you may be contributing to your dry eye symptoms? If the air around you is dry, it becomes even more difficult for your eyes to maintain proper moisture.
A humidifier can make your environment more conducive to your ocular health, so the air you’re exposed to isn’t further drying out your eyes. These at-home treatments are typically only effective for mild to moderate symptoms of dry eye.
If your symptoms are more severe, you may find that home remedies are insufficient. In this case, it’s worth scheduling a visit with your eye doctor to find a more appropriate treatment.
2. Your Eyes Feel Like They’re Getting Worse, Not Better
Dry eye can be temporary or chronic. Many factors can cause inadequacy of moisture in the eyes.
For example, you may experience dry eye as a side effect of some medications. Alternatively, you may experience it in specific scenarios, like looking at a screen for an extended period of time or going for a walk on a windy day.
For some people, it may seem like their dry eye symptoms do not go away no matter what they do. If this is the case, they may find that their dry eye worsens over time.
Symptoms can continue for weeks or even months. If this sounds like you, it’s a good idea to have an eye doctor evaluate your eyes.
Allergies are one reason that your dry eye symptoms can feel worse. Pollen season can aggravate eyes already irritated due to a lack of tears.
Without sufficient tears, your eyes cannot wash away allergens. Allergies can also cause itchiness that makes you want to rub your eyes.
This only adds to the discomfort you are already feeling. Severe cases of dry eye can lead to vision loss, so intervention is critical for your comfort and ocular health.
Your eye doctor can diagnose dry eye, evaluate potential causes, and recommend an ideal treatment for you. That way, you can start to feel better instead of worse.
3. You Have Trouble Performing Everyday Activities
Dry eye can be mildly uncomfortable or compromise your ability to perform your regular tasks, from driving to working on a computer. A lack of moisture in your eyes can make it difficult to wear contacts, read a book, watch TV, cook, and more.
Many people with dry eye complain about difficulty with nighttime driving. Blurry vision can make it challenging to accurately perceive objects on the road.
Not only is this frustrating, but it can also be dangerous. If you need to look at a computer for a portion of your day due to work, the discomfort of dry eye can make it hard to focus.
Screens strain your eyes, and this exacerbates dry eye symptoms. The same applies to reading material, whether a newspaper or a book.
When your dry eyes get in the way of your ability to perform your regular activities, whether for work, around the house or for pleasure, it’s time to consider talking to your eye doctor about treatment.
Are your dry eyes in need of relief? There’s no reason to endure dry eye syndrome when a range of effective treatments are available. Schedule an appointment at Complete EyeCare West in Columbus, OH, today!
