When to See an Eye Doctor for Dry Eye

Suffering from dry eyes can be frustrating. The symptoms can cause eye discomfort and vision changes. More than 16 million Americans are affected by this condition. Dry eyes make seeing difficult. They can also cause infections and damage your cornea surface if untreated. Read on to learn when to see an eye doctor for dry eye.
 

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a condition that occurs when your eyes cannot produce adequate or quality tears for enough lubrication. Many reasons can cause unstable or inadequate tears.
 

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can cause pain and eye irritation. Below are some of the dry eye symptoms:
 

• A stinging, scratching, and burning sensation in your eyes

• Light sensitivity

• Eye fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Red eyes

Dry eye has many other symptoms related to reduced tear production and increased evaporation of tears.
 

Inadequate Tear Production

Adults above 65 have an increased risk of getting dry eye. Aging causes tear glands to stop working effectively. Inadequate tear production has other contributors, like medical conditions and some medications.

Spending time focusing on digital screens like computers can dry your eyes. Hormonal changes cause many women to suffer from dry eye symptoms. Reduced tear production can cause eye discomfort and affect the quality of your life.
 

Increased Tear Evaporation

Poor-quality tears evaporate quickly. The oily layer spreads tears across the eye surface to prevent evaporation. But when this layer gets affected, the eye gets irritated, causing evaporative dry eye disease.

The oil, also called meibum, can get clogged, plugged, or be of poor quality. When a patient has meibomian gland dysfunction or the glands releasing the oil get affected, the eye becomes painful and dry. Several factors that affect the meibum and cause tear evaporation include:
 

• Eye allergies

• Vitamin A deficiency

• Posterior blepharitis

• Dry air, smoke, and wind

• Eyelid problems like entropion and ectropion

• Infrequent blinking

When to See an Eye Doctor

Some individuals experience dry eye relief by using eye drops. However, chronic dry eyes may not respond to them. As a result, you may experience sharp pain, burning sensation, or stinging in your eyes. You could experience corneal ulcers or infections if you leave the condition untreated.

See your eye doctor if you have consistent dry eye symptoms. Most times, too much screen time can strain your eyes and cause them to dry. Resting and taking breaks can get you back to normal. But if your symptoms happen daily or consistently, you may need professional help.

Seek help from your eye doctor if you are unsure what causes your dry eye. Your eye specialist can determine the root cause of the problem and give you the appropriate treatment for long-term relief.

Most people resort to at-home treatments when they start experiencing dry eye symptoms. You may also purchase over-the-counter eye drops to help add moisture to your dry eyes. They may work for a short time, but your symptoms can resume. Contact your optometrist if your dry eyes do not recover no matter what you do.

For more about dry eye, visit Lakeview Optometry at our office in Monticello, Indiana. Call (574) 622-8400 to book an appointment today.