What are the symptoms of dry eye and how is it treated?
What are the symptoms of dry eye and how is it treated?
- Irritation
- Feeling of having a foreign object in the eye
- Itchy Eyes
- Tired
- Vision fluctuation
- Blurry vision
These feelings can occur when the tears fail to keep the eye surface adequately lubricated.
What causes Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes are not always related to an underlying condition, other factors maybe:
- Prolonged staring at a computer
- Aging
- Reduced blinking
- Medication
- Dry air
- Hormonal changes in women
- Use of contact lenses
Self Help Tips that may reduce Dry Eye
- Blink more often, especially when you are staring at a computer for hours or reading a book
- Position your computer screen below eye level
- Drink more water
- Avoid exposure to smoke
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air
- Use artificial tear drops
- Use protective eyewear to block dry air
- Eat a diet rich in Vitamin A. Liver, carrots, and broccoli are a good vitamin A source
One thing that helps me
The Eye Pack
The eye pack is a wheat filled, microwaveable eye pillow that relaxes and rejuvenates your tired, sore eyes.
Place the wheat bag in the microwave for 20 seconds, wrap with a clean tissue and put the pillow across your eyes for around 5-10 minutes. This will help soften the oil in the meibomian glands, which helps increase the flow of oil across the eye surface.
This really opens my eyes and makes them feel fresh and less tired again.
You may need a different treatment if your dry eye is caused by an underlying condition. It also depends on the severity of your symptoms and what you’re comfortable with.
Work with your doctor to find the best solution for you.