Dry eye syndrome is an eye condition that occurs when your tears fail to provide sufficient lubrication for your eyes. According to MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute), 10–20 out of every 100 individuals above the age of 40 report moderate to severe dry eye symptoms or seek treatment for the disease. You may get dry eyes if tears are not adequate or if they are of poor quality.
Some of the symptoms include eyes getting inflamed, watery, red, irritated, blurry. Dryness may also damage the surface of your eye. There could be diverse reasons behind dry eyes, ranging from natural environmental causes, like wind and pollen to artificial factors, such as prolonged screen use.
Dry eye treatments can help you get relief from the symptoms. It is important that you do not ignore your dry eye condition. Approach an eye specialist and do as advised by them.
Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome typically affects both eyes. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Irritation in eyes
- Itchy or burning sensation in eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Blurry vision
- Redness in eyes
- A gritty feeling – sensation of having something in eyes
- Watery eyes
- Tired eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Difficulty with night driving
See a trusted ophthalmologist if any of the above signs and symptoms persists. Dry eye syndrome may have some unexpected consequences, especially if you are unaware of the problem and do not get any treatment for it.
Dry Eye Risks
People with severe dry eyes may experience some complications:
- Compromised quality of life
Even simple routine activities like reading may seem challenging. There may be discomfort all the time. - Increased infection risk
It is your tears that shield your eye’s surface from infection. Risk of eye infection may rise when tears are not enough. - Corneal damage
Severe dry eyes can harm the outer surface of the eye. The condition may also lead to eye inflammation, scratches on the corneal surface, corneal ulcers, and loss of vision.
Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment
Tears are essential for eye health and comfort. Not only do they keep your eyes hydrated but also remove debris. If left untreated, dry eye syndrome can damage your cornea and in severe cases, it could also result in vision loss. Hence, it is necessary to seek treatment.
There are several treatment options that may help relieve your symptoms. Your eye doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment depending on the severity of your symptoms. They will also take into account the underlying causes.
1. Home Remedies
If you have mild symptoms, your ophthalmologist may advise some natural treatment for dry eyes:
– Avoiding Environmental Triggers
It could be anything that gives you dry eyes. Examples include wind, pollen, heat, sunlight, allergens, cigarette smoke, etc. You can try wearing protective glasses when outdoors.
– Using a Humidifier in Your Home
Humidity levels could be low (below 25%) at your place. It could happen because of your air-conditioning or heating system. It could worsen your dry eye symptoms. Installing a humidifier could prove effective.
– Placing Warm Compresses on Your Eyes
In some cases of dry eye syndrome, particularly those caused due to MGD (Meibomian Glands Dysfunction), leaving a simple heat mask on your eyes for about 10 minutes can be beneficial. These heat masks are readily available at pharmacy stores.
– Giving Rest to Your Eyes
While reading or using digital devices like laptops and mobiles, you should give your eyes some rest or a break. You can do it by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds – every 20 minutes. Additionally, develop a habit to blink more often. It would enhance your tear production and stability.
– Taking Omega-3 Supplements
Omega-3 fatty acids may support production of tears and ease your dry eye symptoms. However, you should talk to your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.
2. Medications
Many types of eye drops and ointments are available to treat dry eyes:
– Artificial Tears
Available over-the-counter, artificial tears lubricate your eyes. They give temporary relief from symptoms, although they do not treat the root cause. As with all medicines, do check with your doctor before using them.
– Eye Ointments
These thicker lubricants are meant for those whose eyes dry out during sleep. They should be used before going to bed at night.
– Autologous Serum Drops
These are generally recommended if you have severe dry eye condition. As the name suggests, these eye drops are made from your own blood serum. This customised treatment is used when other treatments do not work.
– Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs may prove helpful if tear production in your eyes is not adequate. Your ophthalmologist inserts a plug into the tear drain in your lower eyelid. Punctal plugs allow more tears to stay in your eyes.
– Latest Treatment For Dry Eye Syndrome: In-office Therapies
If you suffer from Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) – a leading cause of dry eyes and one which is hard to treat, you can go for the breakthrough Lipiflow (Thermal Pulsation) therapy. Another one is IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy.
While Lipiflow works by helping your meibomian glands to produce more oil, IPL removes the blockages in the meibomian glands to improve oil flow through them.
Conclusion
Dry eye syndrome may be more troublesome than most of us think it to be. The condition may be due to various reasons. Also, the intensity of the problem may vary from person to person. However, whatever be the underlying cause, one aspect which is common is the discomfort it causes. While some may experience red, watery, and burning eyes, others may have to go through more complex symptoms.
It is essential that you do not ignore the condition, and seek treatment from a good eye specialist. It would make life easier, and also protect your eyes and vision for the future.
For reliable dry eye treatment in Chandigarh, visit Sohana Hospital. The highly qualified and experienced ophthalmologists use the most advanced diagnostics and treatments to ensure that patients get rid of their eye problems and lead a smooth life.
Stay ahead of your dry eye condition by being alert and proactive. Preserve your vision for life.
