8 Most Common Dry Eye Symptoms
Sweet summertime! It’s all sun, fun, and…dry eyes? That’s not quite right, but for many people, it’s their reality.
Concerned that you may have dry eye? Keep reading to learn about the 8 most common dry eye symptoms to watch out for!
1. Itchy Eyes
One of the most common dry eye symptoms is having itchy eyes. It’s also one of the most frustrating!
With itchy eyes, the number one thing people want to do is rub them. Don’t do it!
Rubbing your eyes will make this annoying symptom even worse! More than that, it can lead to more problems and hurt your eyes.
Want relief from your itchy eyes? Artificial tears and eye drops are your new best friends!
2. Redness
Dry eye can also cause cosmetic problems. Red, bloodshot eyes are telltale signs of someone dealing with dry eye.
Nobody wants red irritated eyes. Red eyes can also be painful. If your red eyes are making you uncomfortable, you can put a cold washcloth over your eyes.
This can help cool them down and reduce any puffiness or swelling. You can also use eye drops to add much needed moisture.
3. Eye Fatigue
Eyes that are dealing with dry eye are often overworked, leading to tiredness. The strain can also induce headaches and make it difficult to focus.
Avoid eye fatigue by taking frequent breaks. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time in front of computers or screens.
Make an active effort to take a break every twenty minutes. During this time, close your eyes, or at the very least, look at an object that’s 20 feet away. This can help if your eyes are feeling overworked.
4. Blurriness
Dry eye also affects vision. Your eyesight may become blurry if your eyes are too dry. You can avoid this by using artificial tears.
If your eyes are too dry, your vision will stay blurry until you lubricate them.
5. Light Sensitivity
Light sensitivity is another painful aspect of dry eye. You may find that the sun or headlights from oncoming traffic has become unbearable.
Even if you don’t have dry eye, you should always have polarized sunglasses with you. Sunglasses are your best defense if you are struggling with light sensitivity.
6. Mucus Buildup
If you suffer from dry eye, you may also notice mucus discharge in or around your eyes. This mucus is stringy and unpleasant, and may be difficult to remove.
Dry eye is usually caused by tear quality or the amount of tears you can produce. If you notice a lot of mucus, this is a clear sign that your tears aren’t the best quality. Talk to your eye doctor about your options.
7. Grittiness
Dry eye may cause a sensation of having something in your eye, such as a grain of sand, even when nothing is present. Like having itchy eyes, the gritty feeling that comes with dry eye makes rubbing tempting.
Again, don’t give in to this temptation! Rubbing your eyes will only make it feel like there’s more grit in your eyes.
8. Watery Eyes
Although it seems counterintuitive, this is actually a common symptom with dry eye. The body responds to the lack of moisture in the eyes by over producing tears.
Unfortunately, instead of helping, it causes even more vision loss.
Tired of living with your frustrating dry eye symptoms? Do something about it! Schedule a dry eye appointment at Pinke Eye Center in Shelton, CT today!
