What can I Do for my Dry Eyes?

Do you have irritated eyes? They feel tired all the time even though you’re not tired?

Does it feel like there’s sand or grit in your eyes and you cant seem to get it out?

In practice as optometrists we hear these concerns on an hourly basis. Believe it or not, the culprit is usually dry eyes. Patients will often present with redness, light sensitivity and a white discharge coming from their irritated eyes! Many mistake these symptoms for a true infection; the solution is rarely an antibiotic for a red eye!!

So why do our eyes get dry? The answer is actually quite complex. A few of the culprits can be found below:

– Age over 50

– Female sex

– Contact Lens wearers

– Long hours on computers and other visual devices

– Diets high in omega 6 and low in omega 3

– Various medications

– Smoking

The list goes on! But your suffering doesn’t have to. Although we have no cure for dry eye disease, we have many treatment options which are improving all the time.

The classic solution for mild dryness involves the use of artificial tears to help keep your eyes lubricated.

For mild-to-moderate dryness we start bringing out the big guns. Your optometrist can prescribe various medications to help reduce the inflammation within your eyes. This allows the eyes to regain a normal chemical balance and aid in relief.

For moderate to severe dryness we often begin to consider additional in office therapies such as radio frequency treatments and meibomian gland expression. These treatments can be hugely beneficial in tackling the root of the problem of your dry eye disease!

If you or a loved one is experiencing dry eye disease please follow this link to book an appointment with us!