Our lifestyle has exposed us to a lot of common eye issues like digital strain, dry eyes, seasonal allergies, double vision, and more. Fortunately, most of these are manageable and don’t cause permanent vision damage. Also, they are interrelated as well. From mild tiredness of eyes to dry eyes, digital eye strain can affect an individual at variable degrees. You can visit eye care experts like Stoney Creek Eyecare, to analyze your vision health. In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about the dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome is a common diagnosis. A person with a dry eye might appear with a particular set of symptoms that will create hindrance to his lifestyle. But how do you conclude that you might be suffering from a dry eye problem? An eye examination will be helpful, for sure. A dry eye syndrome is caused by the faulty formation of the tear film. In simple words, your eyes do not produce enough tears to keep your eye lubricated. As a result, you might experience irritation in your eyes as dust, and other irritants can not be removed from the eyes. This is further accompanied by the set of symptoms, such as: –
- Burning and stinging sensation
- Redness
- Pain
- Itching
These are the common symptoms experienced by someone with dry eye syndrome. See your doctor immediately if you notice discomfort in your eyes or experience difficulty while reading. This brings us to the next query- what causes dry eyes?
Experts suggest that there could be many reasons behind this syndrome. The most common ones include long working hours on the computer, extensive reading, spending time in a dry climate, and much more. All of these conditions can lead to dry eye syndrome. This can make your eyes prone to a bacterial infection that can lead to scarring of your cornea and inflammation of the eye. Although these symptoms may seem scary, dry eye never leads to permanent loss of vision in most cases.
What are the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?
Tears are always associated with pain in most cases. But you underestimate the worth of your tears. You may be surprised to know that your tears are not just water, but it has three layers of liquids that are- oily outermost layer, watery middle layer, and an innermost mucus layer. In any situation, if there is a lack of any mentioned layer in your eyes, it will lead to dry eye syndrome. In the lack of oil, your tears will evaporate quickly as well. The causes of dry eye syndrome are: –
- Hormones replacement therapies
- Eye allergies
- Staying in a dry climate for a long duration
- LASIK eye surgeries
- Medications such as anti-histamines, decongestion nasal drops, and some other medicines
- Contact wear for long hours
- Age factor
- Lack of adequate blinking and
- Staring at computer screens for long hours
Apart from these, people suffering from thyroid disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin-a deficiency, and other ailments are more at risk of developing this syndrome.
When to call an expert?
If you feel that you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned above, you need to visit your ophthalmologist right away. As you will explain your symptoms to him, he will suggest you some diagnostic test to analyze your tear film production. He might also use a fluorescein dye on your tear film to make your tear film more visible. You will be treated as per your eye issue, and if required, they might also refer you to a specialist.
Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome
Treatment depends upon the causative factor. Based on this, you might be advised for: –
Teardrops, Lacrimal plugs, Anti-inflammatory medications, a nutritious diet, surgery, and installing humidifiers at your residence. These are some common ways to treat dry eye syndrome. When cared properly, the situation gets better as the discomforting symptoms are lessened. In rare cases, you might experience a complication like corneal ulcer and scarring. Though less likely to occur, these situations will be treated separately. Call your eye care specialist if you are experiencing any eye trouble. Vision is a beautiful gift; make sure that it stays that way.
