Symptoms & Causes of Dry Eye and How You Can Help

There are many different causes of dry eyes with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. We’re going to discuss reasons you could be experiencing dry eyes and ways you can help yourself treat your dry eyes where possible or at least relieve some of the symptoms.

Watch this brief video to find out what dry eye is…

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Common symptoms of dry eyes:

• Redness

• Burning

• Itching

• Excessive tearing

• Occasional blurry vision

• Soreness

• Light sensitivity (photophobia)

• Heavy / fatigued eyes

• Feeling of something in eye(s)

• Irritation/grittiness

Possible Causes

• Medications such as diuretics / antihistamines

• Contact lens wearer

• Recently had laser eye surgery / different form of refractive surgery

• Use 2 or more glaucoma eye drops

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Smoking

• Hormonal changes associated with menopause

• Work environment (dry / dusty)

• Frequent computer use

• Air conditioning, ceiling fans and forced air heating systems

• Incomplete closure of the eyelids when blinking or sleeping

• Frequent flying

Because there are many possible causes of dry eye, we gather a patient health history to better understand your risk. If we determine that you are at risk for dry eye, based on your symptoms and risk factors, we can perform state of the art tests to evaluate and understand the underlying reasons for your dry eye.

Dry Eye Management and Prevention

Thankfully, there are effective treatment options if you suffer from chronic dry eye. In many cases, routine use of artificial tears and minor behavioural modifications (taking frequent breaks during computer use, for example) can significantly reduce dry eye symptoms.

In other cases, your eye doctor might recommend prescription eye medications and in-office procedures to help your body create and secrete more tears and to decrease eye irritation and inflammation.

Effective treatment methods

• Hot compress

• Lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)

• Punctal plugs

• Thorough cleansing of eyelids

• Blink more frequently

• Nutritional supplements

• LipiFlow (dry eye treatment device)

• Quality sunglasses / eye protection

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If you are unsure about any of the above mentioned treatment methods or the cause of your dry eye symptoms, please visit your GP or a specialist eye doctor for information more specific to you. The above provided information is generalised and is not expected to be used in place of a doctors care.