What you should know about dry eye syndrome

If you’ve ever experienced dry eye syndrome, then you know the red, itchy, gritty feeling that comes with it. Fortunately, there are many options that can effectively treat this common condition. Read on to learn more about treatments for dry eye.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of dry eye include stinging, burning, scratchiness, redness, stringy mucus, watery eyes, sensitivity to light as well as the sensation of having something in your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, you may find this more difficult. Nighttime driving may be difficult as well. Many people experience blurred vision and eye fatigue as well. 

Treatment

An effective treatment for dry eyes is over-the-counter artificial tears, which restores moisture to your eyes. If you find yourself applying them more than six times a day, you will want to see your doctor for prescription medication or other treatment options. 

Another over-the-counter treatment that is effective on dry eyes is eye ointment. This is thicker than eye drops and should be applied to the inner lower lash line before bedtime as it’s likely to blur your vision if you use it during the day. 

In-office treatment

If over-the-counter treatments aren’t working, you may need to see an eye doctor for a full exam and treatments such as meibomian gland imaging, gland debridement or laser treatments. 

Prevention

In addition to treatments for dry eye syndrome, there are things you can do to reduce or prevent the occurrence. Use a humidifier if your home air is dry. Avoid air blowing directly in your eyes, which can happen when you use car heaters, fans or hair dryers. Also avoid smoke in your eyes, as this can contribute to dry eye syndrome. 

If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen or smartphone, take eye breaks to give your eyes some rest. Close your eyes and rest them for a few minutes. Position your computer screen just below eye level to help slow the evaporation of tears between eye blinks. 

If you’re interested in learning more about dry eye treatments, schedule an appointment today by calling 425-455-2131 today.

Posted in: Dry Eye

Request an Appointment

Quick Contact

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This is a non-secure form. Do not include sensitive information in your message.