08 Jul Causes & Care For Dry Eyes
Dry eye is a condition where an individual doesn’t have enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. It is a common and often chronic problem particularly in older adults.
Dry eyes feel uncomfortable. If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn. You may experience dry eyes in certain situations, such as on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, while riding a bike or after looking at a computer screen for a few hours.
Dry eyes can result from:
- An imbalance in the tear mixture causing the tears to evaporate too fast
- Eyelid problems
- Certain medication
- Environmental factors
- After the age of 40, tear production tends to diminish. When it drops to a certain point, the eyes can become dry and easily irritated and inflamed. This is more common in women, especially after menopause.
You can take the following steps to reduce symptoms of dry eyes:
- Remember to blink regularly when reading or staring at a computer screen for long periods of time.
- Increase the humidity in the air at work and at home.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors (particularly those with wraparound frames) to reduce exposure to wind and the sun.
- Nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids may help decrease dry eye symptoms in some people. Ask your optometrist if taking dietary supplements could help your dry eye problems.
- Drink plenty of water (8 to 10 glasses per day) to avoid dehydration.
To better determine if you suffer from dry eye, take our online test. Your dry eye symptoms do not have to persist. At Dr. D’Orio Eye Care we use the latest technology available to better diagnose and treat dry eyes. The equipment available at Dr. D’Orio includes Blephex, Inflammadry, Tearlab, Antares S40PTIK andiLux Device.
Book an appointment with us today by visiting our website or call us at 416 656 2020 (Toronto) / 416 661 5555 (North York).
