Tears play a large part in maintaining your visual health, safety, and comfort. They help remove foreign particles from your eyes and keep your eyes lubricated. Any irregularities to the quantity or quality of your tears may result in dry eye syndrome. Read on as your expert eye doctor at Downtown Eyes sheds light on this condition.
Common Risk Factors
Women, especially postmenopausal women, are more likely to develop dry eyes because of the hormonal changes they may experience as they age. Cigarette smoking also introduces chemicals in your body that can reduce moisture in your eyes. Spending extensive periods of time on the computer or other digital devices is another risk factor, as is staying in a dry climate.
Typical Symptoms
When your eyes are dry, they may become reddish and watery. Your may also experience a gritty or burning sensation in your eyes. In more severe cases, you may develop heightened glare sensitivity and reduced tolerance to close-range work. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your trusted eye doctor or optometrist immediately.
Detection and Management
During your clinic visit, we will ask you about your medical history and lifestyle to get an idea of what might be causing your dry eyes. We will then perform a comprehensive eye exam to measure your tears and assess your overall visual health. Upon confirming dry eye syndrome, we will prepare a treatment plan to help relieve your symptoms.
Your reliable eye doctor may prescribe medicated eye drops, which can help increase your tear production rate. We may also suggest using eyelid cleaners to reduce the swelling in your eyes. If your tears are draining too rapidly, we may recommend blocking your tear ducts as well. Applying artificial tear solutions helps keep your tears at a healthy level.
If you have any further questions about dry eyes, call us at (612) 333-EYES (3937) or complete our form to request an appointment. We serve Minneapolis, MN, and nearby areas.