What To Do If Dry Eye Causes You Pain
Dry eye is a very common eye problem all over the world. Over 5 million people over the age of 50 in the U.S. alone suffer from the disease.
Symptoms from the disease include itchiness, redness, and swelling. The disease may also cause a mucous discharge, light sensitivity, and even watery eyes.
The severity of the symptoms can range from mild to moderate to severe. But what happens if dry eye causes you pain? Keep reading to find out more!
What happens when you have severe dry eye?
Severe dry eyes are usually the result of a normal case of dry eye left untreated for too long. Not addressing your dry eye problem can cause it to spiral out of control.
Without a protective layer of tears, your eyes become more likely to become infected. It also puts them at risk for developing corneal problems like ulcers, which can lead to scarring.
Don’t let that frighten you, though. Dry eye is a problem that can be solved. It takes a concerted effort on both your own part and that of your doctor’s.
The first step, as with any health maintenance goal, is to set up recurring appointments with your doctor. You can set up one now with Dr. Pinke in Shelton, CT.
Dry eye may require more than one treatment option
Depending on your level of dry eye, you may need to attack the problem from more than one angle. Focusing on the immediate issue of your pain, use lubricating eye drops to relieve your eyes.
This is the best thing you can do. Whatever you do, don’t rub your eyes. Rubbing your eyes damages them over time and can make problems worse.
Try using high viscosity eye drops if you can deal with blurry vision for a few minutes. They last longer, so you won’t need to reapply them as often.
You should be applying eye drops even when your eyes don’t feel itchy. By the time they are itchy, you will have already exposed your eyes.
If your eyes are not producing enough tears, or you produce low-quality tears, you may need medical help. You can get physical stimulation therapy on your eyelids to help release oil into your tears.
This oil prevents tears from evaporating. This allows them to remain on the surface of your eye longer. You can also get plugs inserted into your tear ducts, blocking the tears from draining.
These plugs can be easily removed, and both insertion and removal of them are painless.
Treating dry eye on your own
You can take dry eye management into your own hands, as well, by making adjustments to your lifestyle. Clean your house often to remove dust, pollen, pet dander, and allergens.
These can cause irritation. Staying hydrated will give your body ample water to produce enough tears. Reducing your screen time will reduce strain on your eyes.
Tired of dealing with the symptoms of dry eye on your own? Schedule an appointment at Pinke Eye Center in Shelton, CT and get the relief you need!
