Dry Eye

dry eyeDry eye syndrome is common for those who wear contact lenses, or for people who use computers frequently, or for patients who have had eye surgery. If you have had eye irritation and you feel a sandy or gritty feeling in your eye, you could be suffering from dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye is prevalent in all genders by 5-14% of the population, but is more commonly diagnosed in women who are near or past menopause. This eye condition can be extremely irritating because it feels like something is in the eye constantly. Some cases of dry eye syndrome come and go, but some cases can be severe.

Other symptoms of dry eye include:

  • Sore
  • Scratchy
  • Gritty
  • Burning
  • Light sensitive
  • Decreased Vision
  • Tired Eyes

The causes of dry eye are unclear, but some studies have concluded that lipid anomaly, tear deficiency, allergic/toxic, primary epitheliopathies, mucin anomaly, and blinking problems can be some of the reasons for dry eye to occur. Other studies conclude that a deficiency in the motor nervous system, sensory nervous system, or other deficiencies in target organs such as the lacrimal gland can cause dry eye. Environmental factors such as sun, wind, and pollution can also be a cause of dry eye.

Treatments for dry eye include lubricating eye drops, thicker eye ointments, and punctal plugs. Making changes to your lifestyle can help with dry eye as well. These methods will usually help with dry eye syndrome but will not ultimately fix abnormal tear production or any underlying disease that is causing dry eye syndrome.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms above, you could have dry eye. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Yankelove, and he will provide the right treatment to calm any eye irritation that you are experiencing.

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