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All illnesses are terrible, but problems with our eyes can affect far more than just our eyesight. The trouble with dry eye is that it can leave us feeling groggy, tired and irritable – and that’s before we even get to our eyes!
Dry eye is essentially an uncomfortable condition which is caused by a lack of lubrication around the surface of the eyeball. It is not a severe, vision-threatening illness like macular degeneration or glaucoma; however it can cause extreme discomfort in severe cases and you should always be examined if you experience any of the common symptoms of the condition. Give us a call to arrange an appointment – we are always happy to welcome new patients.
Dry eye syndrome affects around five million Americans, so it’s important to recognize the symptoms so you can get an early diagnosis.
The thing about eye diseases is that many of them – from very minor conditions to those which can cause total blindness – share the same symptoms. If you choose to self diagnose and are incorrect, your chosen treatment option may do more harm than good.
As a guide, here are some of the main symptoms associated with dry eye:
While certain triggers for dry eye are pretty difficult to avoid, such as arid weather (which effortlessly dries out your eyes) there are numerous causes which are commonly associated with the condition. Treatment options vary from patient to patient.
Causes
The objective of any treatment for dry eye is to improve the lubrication of the eyeball. Simple yet effective options include increasing the amount of fluid rich foods in your diet (like fresh fruit and vegetables) and using sunglasses to protect your eyes from high winds.
More advanced treatments to combat stubborn symptoms can include tear-inducing eye drops, punctal plugs and corticosteroid eye creams. Any advanced treatment should be discussed at length with Dr. Mast prior to making any decisions.
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