Do your eyes frequently feel dry and irritated? Do you notice that you’re rubbing them often because they feel itchy?
There may be something serious going on with your eyes and you should have them looked at by your eye doctor.
Keep reading to learn about why you should take care of your dry eyes right now.
1) It May Affect Your Vision
Not taking care of your dry eyes can affect your vision. If left untreated severe dry eyes can lead to vision loss. If you’ve been suffering from dry eyes for a long time then you may already know what it’s like to not be able to see clearly.
2) You May Have Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is an eye condition that affects the tear glands and tear ducts in your eye. It’s a common occurrence among dry eye sufferers and why many go see their doctor for treatment.
Symptoms include:
- Mild irritation
- Redness
- Stinging
- Burning
- Excess tearing
- Blurred vision
- Eye discharge
Dry eye syndrome occurs when your natural tears do not provide enough moisture for your eyes. These ‘poor quality’ tears can lead to inflammation and damage your eyes.
3) It Might Be Your Medication
Some medications may cause your eyes to be dry. Tell your eye doctor about any medications you are taking. Your primary doctor may switch your medication to a less irritating one.
4) You Want To Get On With Your Life
When was the last time you were able to enjoy reading or watching tv without constantly rubbing your eyes? It’s frustrating when you can’t do the things that you want to because of pain. And dry eyes can be very painful if left untreated.
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing dry eyes:
- It’s natural as you age
- Dry eye can occur as a side effect of certain medications
- You spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen
- It can develop due to exposure to smoke, wind, or dry air
- If your eyes frequently feel dry there are some things that you can do to help them:
- Apply a warm compress over your eyes
- Use eye drops
- Increase your blinking
- Use a humidifier in your home or office
- If possible, lower the temperature in your home or office
- Drink plenty of water
- Take frequent short breaks from staring at your computer, books, or cell phone
Other Ways To Treat Your Dry Eyes
When you’re outside be sure to protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses or goggles to shield your eyes from the sun, wind, dust, and other particles that may irritate your eyes.
Any of these tips should keep your eyes hydrated. If your dry eye problem persists, there are other treatments you can discuss with your eye doctor. These include prescription eye drops, Lipiflow, and punctal plugs.
Prescription eye drops are more powerful than drops you can find over the counter that can help with dry eye symptoms that won’t go away.
LipiFlow is a simple treatment performed at your eye doctor’s office. It uses gentle heat and pressure to remove oil that’s clogged in your meibomian glands.
These glands produce oil that helps keep your eyes hydrated. One LipiFlow treatment takes about 12 minutes. Although you could benefit from more than one LipifFlow treatment.
Punctal plugs plug the tear ducts in your eyes. The tear ducts are where tears drain from your eyes. By plugging the ducts you keep more tears in your eyes, keeping them more hydrated.
Your eye doctor will help determine which treatment is best for you.
Don’t let your dry eyes stop you from living life to the fullest. Schedule an appointment at Ellis Eye in San Francisco today!
Take the first step toward relieving your dry eyes for good!
