Understanding Dry Eye and How Your Optometrist Can Treat It

Dry eye is a common and frustrating condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Dry eye occurs when your eyes cannot produce enough tears or your produced tears evaporate too quickly. The lack of tears can leave your eyes feeling scratchy, irritated, and uncomfortable. The Eye Doctor Unlimited in College Park, GA, provides effective dry eye treatment to reduce or eliminate your symptoms and improve your vision. Continue reading to learn about dry eye and how we can treat it.

Symptoms and Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eye syndrome can cause several irritating symptoms that significantly impact your daily life. Common symptoms of this condition include a stinging, burning, scratchy, or gritty feeling in the eyes, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. You may also have difficulty wearing contact lenses due to eye dryness.

Multiple factors can contribute to your dry eye symptoms. Dry eye is more likely in older adults, especially women, due to natural aging affecting your ability to produce tears. Medical conditions like Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause dry eye. You can experience dry eye symptoms due to a side effect from medications like antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants. Dry air, wind, smoke, and staring at screens for extended periods can also contribute to dry eyes.

How Can Your Optometrist Help?

You must see your optometrist near you for a comprehensive eye exam if you experience dry eye symptoms. Your optometrist will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle to determine if you have dry eye syndrome. They will also perform tests to measure the quality and quantity of your tears. Once they diagnose your condition, they can use the following treatments to alleviate symptoms:

•           Artificial tears: Over-the-counter artificial tears can help lubricate your eyes and relieve symptoms. However, you should choose preservative-free artificial tears since preservatives can irritate the eyes.

•           Prescription eye drops: Our optometrist may prescribe stronger eye drops to increase tear production and reduce inflammation in more severe cases of dry eye syndrome.

•           Lifestyle changes: You can improve your dry eye symptoms by taking breaks from staring at screens and avoiding dry air, wind, and smoke.

Get Dry Eye Treatment Today at The Eye Doctor Unlimited in College Park, GA

Dry eye can be a frustrating condition that significantly impacts your quality of life if left untreated, so contact The Eye Doctor Unlimited in College Park, GA, to get the dry eye treatment needed to feel like yourself again. Call us and schedule a comprehensive eye exam with our optometrist at (404) 768-3500 and get relief for your dry eye symptoms today.