Tips And Tricks To Reduce Your Dry Eye
Did you know that almost 5 million Americans who are 50 and older suffer from dry eye? Dry eye is an extremely common condition among adults. Typical symptoms of dry eye include irritation and itchiness, redness, and swelling in the eyes and even distorted vision caused by overactive tearing. With such annoying symptoms, you may be desperate in your search for a permanent solution. Pinke Eye Center is here to help!
The Causes Of Dry Eye
To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy. Dry eye can be the result of a combination of factors or just one. It can be triggered by:
- Air quality. Airborne dust, sand, or other particles can irritate your eyes. Air that is too dry can also lead to discomfort as it causes your tears to evaporate more quickly. Pollen can also cause allergic reactions, leading to dry eye.
- Too much screen time. When you use a computer or watch television for too long, you may forget to blink. Blinking replenishes your eyes with nourishing tears, so it is important to blink frequently.
- Certain medications. This can range from allergy medication to birth control. If you suffer from dry eye, make sure to check medications for possible side effects that may make dry eye worse.
- Age. As you get older, your body may not produce as many tears or the quality of tears may not be sufficient to keep your eyes well lubricated.
- Inactive meibomian glands. Meibomian glands are responsible for producing one of the 3 major ingredients of the tear which is oil. The other 2 key ingredients in tears are water and mucus.If your tears lack the proper amount of oil, they will evaporate before they can effectively nourish your eye.
Avoid Dry Eye Triggers
This may sound obvious, but it can be difficult to avoid dry eye triggers. It is impossible to constantly bypass things that may cause dry eye. Try to remind yourself of these tips:
- Avoid climates that will dry your eyes out. Always wear proper eye protection in areas that have excessive airborne particles.
- If you can’t limit your screen time due to work, follow the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- If you suspect that your medication may be causing dry eye, talk to your doctor about switching to something different.
- If you aren’t producing enough natural tears, you may need to start using artificial ones. Artificial tears help replenish the moisture and nutrients that your eyes are lacking, but are only a short-term solution.
- If you find out that your meibomian glands are underperforming, you may need treatment. This can come in several different forms. Your glands may be plugged up with waxy deposits, which can be broken up with a treatment known as “meibomian gland expression”. Alternatively, your eye doctor at the Pinke Eye Center may advise punctal plugs that block tears from draining from the surface of your eyes too quickly.
To learn more about how to treat your dry eye, schedule an appointment at Pinke Eye Center in Shelton, CT!
