How to Deal with Dry Eyes

Millions of people suffer the symptoms of dry eyes and this is especially a problem for people over age 50 and with certain medical conditions.

Dry eyes generally occur when the eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes. Symptoms include pain, itching, redness and blurry vision.

For some, it can be a minor discomfort, for others it can be painful and lead to serious eye problems if untreated.Sometimes, it’s an occasional problem, others a constant issue.

Either way, it’s important to have it checked and to take steps to deal with the problem.

There are many different causes of dry eyes, for example:

·         Medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, blood pressure medicine

·         Severe weather such as cold winds

·         Artificial conditions such as air conditioning and indoor heating

·         Smoking and poor diet

·         Aging

·         Other medical problems

Equally there are many steps you can take and remedies you can use to help your eyes stay moist.

These include:

·         Blinking:When you are concentrating, you tend not to blink as much. This can be a problem when you stare too long at something like a computer or TV screen. When you fail to blink frequently, eye moisture evaporates quickly. So make sure you look away from your screen and blink regularly.

·         Humidify: Low moisture levels can dry your eyes fast. This can be a problem both with heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.If necessary, consider getting a humidifier for areas where you spend a lot of time.This puts more moisture in the air meaning your tears evaporate more slowly.

·         Stop Smoking: Smoking has been shown to dry out your eyes (as well as increasing the risk of other problems such as cataracts and glaucoma.)

·         Take Care with Air vents:Air vents – such as in automobiles can reduce the moisture in your eyes if they are pointed at your face. Make sure to aim the vents away from your eyes if possible.

·         Take Supplements: Some studies have shown that Omega-3 could help prevent dry-eye syndrome and that vitamin A supplements or vitamin A rich foods can help keep your eyes moist.

·         Eye Drops and Artificial tears:Artificial tears and lubricating eyedrops and gels help provide more moisture and lubrication for the surface of your eye. They are typically used about four times a day, but they can be used as often as needed. Lubricating eye ointments are much thicker than eyedrops and gels and can last much longer. They can blur your vision so are normally used while you are asleep.

Dry eye may seem a minor issue on its own but it can be very uncomfortable and can also lead to bigger problems. It’s therefore important to take steps to deal with it where you can.

Contact your Optometrist Charlottesville CA quickly and they will help you take actions to make improvements.