Risk Factors for Dry Eye

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Are you plagued with chronically dry eyes? This is a condition that causes several uncomfortable symptoms, including red, itchy eyes and the feeling that there’s something in your eye that you can’t get out. Fortunately, youreye doctor in Wellington, FL, can tell you more about dry eye, including who’s most at risk of developing this uncomfortable disorder.

Should I Worry About Dry Eye?
While it’s a fairly common condition, some people are more at risk of developing dry eye than others. These include people over the age of fifty, those who are pregnant, anyone suffering from a vitamin A deficiency, and those who wear contact lenses. But there are other factors that may make you more at risk of developing dry eyes, including:

Smoking
Spending a lot of time outdoors in the wind
A dry environment inside your home
Excessive time spent in front of a screen
Not staying hydrated
If any of these describe you, and you’ve recently noticed dry, itchy eyes, it’s time to schedule an appointment for a routine eye exam with your vision specialist.

How Do I Know if I Have Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes manifest as burning, itching, and irritation. It may feel as though you have a particle in your eye, but the more you try to remove it, the worse your eye feels. You may notice pieces of stringy mucus in your eyes, and it may hurt to open them. These are all symptoms of dry eye disease, and they happen because the tears your body is producing either aren’t enough to keep your eyes lubricated or they’re not remaining in the eyes for a long enough period of time to lubricate them adequately.

Fordiagnosis and treatment of dry eyes in Wellington, FL, call Family Vision Center PA today.

How to Reduce Dry Eye Symptoms in the Winter

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Dry eye symptoms can often worsen during the winter months due to factors like low humidity, exposure to cold winds, and indoor heating. Therefore, many patients reach out for dry eye treatment in Wellington, FL, in the cooler months of the year. Here are some tips to help reduce dry eye symptoms in the winter.

1. Use a Humidifier
If you are using your heat to stay warm when Wellington temperatures dip below a comfortable level, it may also be a good idea to run a humidifier if you have dry eyes. Heat systems lower the humidity in the air, which can also mean tears evaporate quickly. Therefore, you may have more dry eye symptoms.

2. Reduce Indoor Irritants
If your winter months involve more time indoors, consider doing a quick indoor air quality evaluation. Poor air quality can do a number on dry eyes. What kind of pollutants or irritants could be contributing to your dry eye issues inside your home? A few common indoor irritants include:

Tobacco smoke
Pet dander
Dust mites
Cleaning chemicals
Home air fragrances
3. Stay Hydrated
Good hydration is key to tear production. In the winter, when the weather is a bit cooler and you’re not sweating, you may not reach for water as often as usual. Unfortunately, not taking in enough H2O can worsen dry eye symptoms.

4. Wear Sunglasses
If you have to be outdoors during the winter when the temperatures are lower than usual, be sure to wear your sunglasses. Cool wind can dry your eyes out faster than the typical warm, moist air of summer. However, sunglasses may help.

Discuss Dry Eye with a Wellington, FL Eye Doctor
Need additional support for dry eyes from a Wellington, FL eye doctor? Reach out to the team at Family Vision Center to schedule an appointment.

Can Dry Eye Syndrome be Reversed?

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Dry eye syndrome affects millions of people all over the world. This condition causes redness, irritation and—in some cases—physical damage to the eye. If you’ve been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome in Wellington, FL, you may like to know whether or not the condition can be reversed.

Treatment For Dry Eye Syndrome
Much of the treatment for dry eye syndrome has to do with alleviating the symptoms as well as diagnosing and treating the underlying causes. Treatment may include one or more of the following:

prescription eye drops
lifestyle changes
adaptive changes for corrective eyewear (scleral lenses, eyeglasses, etc.)
avoidance of environmental triggers
prescription oral medications
gland expression
light therapy
Is Reversal of Dry Eye Syndrome Possible?
It’s not really possible to reverse dry eye syndrome. If damage has been done to the cornea, that damage may be permanent. This is why it’s important to get treatment for dry eyes as soon as possible after you notice symptoms. However, there is help in the form of treatment to prevent further damage, and to help keep the eyes sufficiently lubricated.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes Syndrome
If you do notice that you have the following symptoms of dry eyes, it’s important to contact your eye doctor as soon as possible for treatment. Symptoms of dry eyes include:

feeling like sand is in the eyes
redness in the whites of the eyes
eye fatigue
feeling like the air is drying out the eyes
having to squeeze eyes tight to get relief
wearing contact lenses increasingly difficult or uncomfortable
shorter wearable time for contact lenses
burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
Your eye doctor in Wellington, FL has diagnostic tools available to determine if you have dry eyes syndrome. Contact us today to learn more or to book your appointment.

Can Dry Eye Be a Symptom of Another Disease?

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For most people, dry eye is more of an annoyance than anything else. In fact, millions can go years ignoring the condition without suffering any major consequences. However, there are cases where dry eyes are more serious, and never more so when they’re a symptom of a bigger condition rather than the primary problem.

Can Dry Eyes Be a Symptom?

In some cases, dry eyes in Wellington, FL, are a byproduct of another disease. These can include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Diabetes
  • Scleroderma
  • Sjogren’s
  • Lupus
  • Grave’s disease

For many of these disorders, dry eyes are not likely to be the first symptom that a person notices. What’s more common is that dry eyes can help a person confirm the possibility of a particular disorder, so they’re more likely to take action about it. For instance, Sjogren’s autoimmune disorder may start with dry eyes and mouth rather than a more noticeable event.

Should I Be Concerned About Standard Dry Eye?

Once you confirm what’s causing your dry eye, you might wonder if you need to be worried about the more standard causes. (Standard causes include a block in your meibomian glands, blinking habits, screen usage, etc.). For the most part, dry eyes are low on the list in terms of severity. However, this doesn’t mean that a person should ignore the problem. Severe dry eye is more than just uncomfortable, it can cause vision problems when you’re driving a vehicle, chopping in the kitchen, or any number of other critical tasks.

Optometrists in Wellington

If you’re ready to figure out the root cause of your dry eyes, visit an eye doctor in Wellington, FL, who can give you the facts. Family Vision Center PA’s staff is here to set the record straight and figure out a solution.

4 Ways to Treat Dry Eye

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Dry eye can be a nuisance that can cause discomfort. Dry eye can also interfere with your contact lenses. If you suffer from dry eye, your eye doctor in Wellington, FL can help keep your eyes healthy. Below are four things you can do to keep your eyes safe and healthy.

1. Add a Little Humidity

Dryness in the air can cause or exacerbate dry eyes. Adding a little humidity to the air in your home – particularly to the places where you spend the most time – can help alleviate symptoms of dry eye. Use a dehumidifier in your home in rooms like the bedroom or living room, where you spend the majority of your time.

2. Use Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are available for sale in pharmacies without a prescription. Artificial tears can help alleviate symptoms of dry eye by keeping your eyes moist and comfortable throughout the day. Keep bottles of artificial tears in your home, purse, office and other places that you frequent, and use artificial tears as indicated on the bottle.

3. Protect Your Eyes

Wear wrap around sunglasses when you’re outside, particularly on bright, sunny days. If you’re using a blow-dryer, protect your eyes from fast blowing air by using the lowest, coolest setting.

4. Talk to Your Eye Doctor

If you made all of the changes listed above and you’re still experiencing dry eye, talk to your eye doctor. Your eye doctor can provide dry eye treatment in Wellington, FL. You may be taking a medication that’s causing dry eye, or you may have a condition that needs treatment.

At Family Vision Center PA, we work with patients to identify the cause of their dry eye and prescribe medicines or take action as needed. If you suffer from dry eye, call today to make an appointment and learn more about what you can do.

What Is Dry Eye?

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Dry eye is a condition that can make your eyes look red and irritated. Dry eye can also make your eyes itchy, watery and generally uncomfortable. Some people get dry eye seasonally, while others experience dry eye because of medication or because of hormone changes, or because of factors in the environment. If you have dry eye, your eye doctor in Wellington, FL can help. Here’s what you need to know about this condition and how you can control its symptoms.

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a condition where the eyes don’t produce adequate tears to lubricate your eyes. If you have dry eye, your eyes may sting or burn, and they may even be watery (to compensate for the dryness). Dry eye is a condition that affects many adults.

What Can You Do to Reduce Dry Eye Symptoms?

If you have dry eye, over the counter eye drops can help lubricate your eyes and reduce some of the most unpleasant symptoms. You can also make changes to your lifestyle and environment to reduce symptoms.

  • Humidify the rooms of the house where you spend the most time.
  • Avoid blowing warm air into your eyes with the blow-dryer.
  • Avoid getting smoke in your eyes.
  • Wear wrap around glasses to block the wind when you’re engaging in outdoor activities like biking, running, skiing.
  • Give yourself frequent breaks when engaging in tasks like working at the computer.

Can Your Eye Doctor Help With Dry Eye?

Your eye doctor can help with dry eye in Wellington, FL. If your condition is severe, you may need extra dry eye treatment. To get help with your dry eye, contact Family Vision Center PA to make an appointment. We can help!

Sources

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863

Are Dry Eye Masks Good for Your Eyes?  

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If you suffer from dry eye in Wellington, FL, you probably already know that it’s a relatively common condition. However, just because it’s common, doesn’t mean it’s easy to cope with. While certainly not life threatening on its own, dry eyes can easily interfere with important tasks like driving or chopping. You might have seen dry eye masks on the market and wondered if they were good for your eyes. We look at the facts of dry eyes and when you should talk to a doctor.

How Dry Eye Masks Work

Your meibomian gland is located within the eyelid at the very outer edge. When it’s clogged, it can’t produce the oil that the tear needs to really lubricate itself. (When you think about your tears, you might think about water and salt. However, it’s really the oil that helps give your eye the sheen it needs to see.) Dry eye masks work by gently unclogging that gland so oil can flow.

Dry eye masks work by administering heat to the eyelid. The thinner the oil gets, the more likely that it will exit through the lid. This is safe for the eye, as long as the mask doesn’t get hot enough to burn your skin. However, it may not always fix the problem.

When to See an Eye Doctor in Wellington, FL

Dry eyes aren’t always the cause of a blocked gland. If you have allergies or other underlying conditions, you’ll want to see an optometrist in Wellington, FL who can help you decide on a better treatment path. At Family Vision Source, we’re here to recommend real solutions that can last. Whether you need prescription eye drops or just a better contact cleaning routine, contact us to learn more about how to get relief.

 

How do Scleral Lenses Help With Dry Eye?  

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Wearing traditional contact lenses when you have dry eye in Wellington, FL can be a little bit challenging. The lack of hydration that is symptomatic of dry eye typically makes it uncomfortable to wear regular contact lenses. Although eyeglasses are one good solution, there is another. Scleral lenses offer a way to correct vision problems for those with dry eye syndrome.

Scleral Lenses Increase Hydration

Because of the way that scleral lenses sit over, rather than on top of, the eyes, they don’t inhibit hydration of the eyes. In between the cornea and the scleral lens is a liquid reservoir that contains saline solution. This translates to near-constant hydration for the eyes, something that those with dry eye syndrome will benefit from.

Scleral Lenses Help Keep Cornea Safe From Damage

With dry eye syndrome, the eyes are under-hydrated, which can result in corneal damage from inflammation, friction or even abrasion. Scleral lenses act as a barrier between eyelids and the cornea, helping to keep the cornea free of irritation and damage.

Eye Irritation is Minimized With Scleral Lenses

Patients with dry eye syndrome often complain of irritation and discomfort. This is due to the eyes not being lubricated sufficiently. Regular contact lenses exacerbate this irritation and discomfort. But scleral lenses don’t come into contact with the cornea; the perimeter of the lens sits on the white part of the eye. Therefore, there is no direct contact with the cornea and eye irritation is minimized.

Scleral lenses are most often prescribed for those with corneal irregularities, damage or refractive errors. However, they are also ideal for many people who suffer from dry eye syndrome. Talk to your Wellington, FL eye doctor to find out if scleral lenses might be right for your needs.