Do You Suffer From Dry Eyes?

If you find yourself facing each new day with red, gummy, itchy eyes, you're hardly alone. These and other symptoms are telltale signs of dry eye, a condition that plagues millions of Americans, including nearly 5 million individuals aged 50 and older. But why would you develop dry eye, what does the condition actually involve, what can happen if it let it go untreated -- and perhaps most urgently if you're in serious discomfort, how do you overcome it? Let us examine the phenomenon of dry eye, and how our Mt.Pleasant optometry center can help.

Why Dry Eye Occurs (and What It Can Do to You)

When dry eye occurs as a recurring or chronic condition, it's usually related to some inadequacy in your tear film. The tear film isn't just water; it's actually a complex substance consisting of three different layers. The water layer keeps the eyes moist, while a mucous layer helps the water adhere to the eye and offers additional protection. the top layer is a layer of oil produced by the meibomian glands of the eyelid. This layer locks in the moisture so the water won't simply evaporate as quickly as it's produced. For your tear film to do its job, your tears must produce enough total fluid, but that fluid must also have the right balance of these ingredients. When either of those things goes wrong, you end up with dry eye. Common causes include:

  • Age-related dryness
  • Medications or medical conditions that promote dryness
  • Dry, windy environments (including the wind from your ceiling fan)
  • Previous eye surgeries which may have affected your tear production
  • Inadequate oil in the tears due to meibomian gland dysfunction
  • Long periods of digital monitor usage, which lulls your eyes into failing to blink (the trigger for making fresh tears)

Whatever the cause of your dry eye, you don't want to ignore it. In addition to chronic eye redness, itching, irritation and blurred vision, your eyes may suffer frequent infections, damage from foreign bodies, and possible corneal damage that affects your long-term eyesight.

Soothing Solutions at H. Arnold Papernick, O.D.

H. Arnold Papernick OD has the answers to your dry eye dilemma. Our optometrist will discuss your symptoms with you, along with any lifestyle factors or known medical issues that might be factors. An analysis of your tear production and composition can reveal whether you're simply not producing enough tears or your tears lack the right mix of ingredients. We can then prescribe the right treatment strategies to get your dry eye under control, including:

  • Adjustments to your medications or medical care regimen
  • Lifestyle changes to limit wind exposure and break up computer-use sessions
  • Artificial tears or gel-based eye drops to keep the eyes moist
  • Procedures to restore normal meibomian gland function

Give your eyes the hydration and protection they need. Call H. Arnold Papernick, O.D. at 724-547-5711 for dry eye treatment!

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Monday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
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