An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from dry eyes. That is a lot of people, enough to make you want to cry…unless of course you can't because you have dry eyes. If you suffer from dry eyes don’t fret there are treatments, something we will discuss.
First off: what are dry eyes and why is it a concern?
There are several reasons why it is important for your eyes to maintain enough tears to coat the surface of your eye. These tears serve a protective function:
- wash away debris such as bacteria, various microorganisms, allergens, and any chemicals that come in contact with your eye
- tears carry antibodies to prevent infection
- tears carry nutrients to the cells on the surface of the eye
So you can understand that tears serve many functions to help provide you with healthy vision. This is also why concerns about dry eyes are more than just dealing with discomfort.
Causes
Dry eyes can be caused by a variety of conditions. In certain cases the lacrimal gland can be damaged and affect the eye’s ability to secrete tears. Certain medical conditions such as lupus and sarcoidosis can inflame the lacrimal gland.
In other scenarios, the side effects of medications, taken for non-eye related conditions, can cause dry eyes. Many medications will list dry eyes as a possible side effect.
Dry eyes can also be caused by abnormalities of the lipid layer of the tear film. What happens then is that oil glands get plugged up (a condition known as blepharitis) and can’t properly secrete the oily layer of tears that prevents evaporation.
Treatments for Dry Eyes
*First and foremost: see an optometrist or eye care specialist
*Artificial tears or preservative free artificial tears (if you use more than 4 times a day)
*Lubricating gels or ointments—best used before bedtime
If you are having problems with dry eyes or any eye care issues please feel free to call Vision Pro today to set up an eye exam with one of our optometrists. We take pride in helping you maintain healthy vision!
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