Do your eyes constantly feel dry, gritty, or like there’s something stuck in them? We’ve all experienced dry eyes at some point in our lives. But if it’s something you experience frequently, it could be a sign of dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or your tears evaporate too quickly. In this blog post, we’ll talk about what causes dry eye syndrome, the signs to look out for, and how you can find relief.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
Dry eye syndrome can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- Red, itchy, burning eyes
- Blurred vision
- Watery eyes
- Grittiness
- Light sensitivity
- Trouble wearing contact lenses
If left untreated, severe dry eye can permanently damage the surface of your eye, leading to scarring and vision loss.
Causes of dry eye syndrome
Many factors can contribute to dry eye syndrome, including aging, spending too much time looking at screens, certain medications, and some medical conditions like thyroid disorders and Sjogren’s syndrome. Environmental factors like wind, low humidity, high heat, and air conditioning can also raise your risk of dry eye. Additionally, women are more likely to develop dry eye than men due to hormonal changes that occur throughout their lives.
Tips for treating dry eye
If you’re dealing with dry eye, there are many ways to find relief. Some simple lifestyle changes, such as drinking more water, adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, taking frequent breaks from screens, and wearing sunglasses can help. Over-the-counter eye drops may also provide temporary relief, but it’s important to talk to your eye doctor before using any medication. In severe cases, your eye doctor may recommend prescription eye drops, tear duct plugs to keep tears from draining, or intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, an advanced treatment that uses gentle pulses of light to stimulate tear production.
At Louisiana Eye Care, our experienced eye doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome and can develop a personalized treatment plan to address the root cause of your symptoms. We offer a range of treatments, including OptiLight IPL therapy, to help you find relief and improve your overall eye health. Give us a call today to book an eye exam in Denham Springs.
