Have you ever experienced dry, itchy, and scratchy eyes? Do you feel a burning sensation or soreness in your eyes after hours of screen time? If so, you might be suffering from dry eye disease. The condition causes discomfort and vision problems and even affects your quality of life. But don’t worry! Dry eyes are a common issue, and it’s preventable and treatable. In this blog, we’ll share some tips to prevent and treat dry eyes and introduce you to a new treatment we offer called OptiLight.
What is dry eye?
Dry eye is a condition that occurs when the eyes are unable to produce enough tears, or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Common causes of dry eye include age, hormonal changes, certain medications, and environmental factors such as dry air, wind, and pollution.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
The symptoms of dry eye can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:
- Dryness or a gritty sensation in the eyes
- Redness
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
- Excessive tearing (as the eyes try to compensate for the lack of moisture)
Fortunately, there are some simple ways to alleviate or even prevent dry eye.
How can you prevent or manage dry eye symptoms?
1. Follow the 20-20-20 rule
To prevent eye strain and dry eyes, it’s essential to take breaks from staring at digital screens for too long. The American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20-20 rule, which means taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet away. This exercise helps reduce eye strain and lubricates your eyes by encouraging you to blink more often.
2. Keep your eyes hydrated
Staying hydrated is critical for not only your overall health but also your eye health. When you’re dehydrated, your eyes can dry up and cause discomfort. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. You can also use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and prevent your eyes from getting dry.
3. OptiLight therapy
At Louisiana Eye Care, we now offer OptiLight IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy, the first and only FDA-approved IPL treatment for dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common cause of dry eye. This condition occurs when the meibomian glands in your eyelids that produce oil become blocked or don’t work properly.
OptiLight is a non-invasive and painless treatment that uses light therapy to stimulate the meibomian glands to produce more oil, helping to relieve dryness and improve your eye health. The treatment only takes a few minutes, and you can return to your daily activities right away. OptiLight therapy provides long-lasting relief for dry eye symptoms, and the results are noticeable within days.
If you’re struggling with dry eye, OptiLight treatment may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Schedule an eye exam in Denham Springs today and ask our doctors if OptiLight is right for you.
