what is dry eye?
Have you ever noticed your eyes feeling gritty or sandy? Perhaps you find that you need to blink a lot just to see things clearly. You may be suffering from a common condition known as dry eye. Studies show that 25% of patients age 65 and older suffer from some form of DED (dry eye disease). We know it also affects more women than men and that women experience more severe symptoms.
DED (dry eye disease) is a disorder that leads to difficulty performing common tasks such as driving, reading and watching television. One of the most overlooked symptoms is fluctuation and blurred vision caused by an unstable tear film.
You may wonder what causes DED. A number of factors like age, contact lens wear, hormonal changes, medications and systemic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and Sjogren syndrome are known to contribute to the disease. Environmental conditions such as dry, windy and smoky environments plus extended computer use are all problematic. Many patients have borderline dry eye and then all of the sudden flare up when encountering known triggers of dry eye which are high temperatures, high pollen and / or low humidity.
Treatment is customized to the type of dry eye diagnosed during an exam. Some patients benefit from plugs inserted into their drains in the front of the eye while others require eye drops or supplements that can be obtained over-the-counter. Prescription eye drops can be beneficial as well. For contact lens wearers I like to use daily disposable contacts if the patient's prescription allows.
A thorough eye exam is the first step in the process of properly diagnosing this condition.
DED (dry eye disease) is a disorder that leads to difficulty performing common tasks such as driving, reading and watching television. One of the most overlooked symptoms is fluctuation and blurred vision caused by an unstable tear film.
You may wonder what causes DED. A number of factors like age, contact lens wear, hormonal changes, medications and systemic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and Sjogren syndrome are known to contribute to the disease. Environmental conditions such as dry, windy and smoky environments plus extended computer use are all problematic. Many patients have borderline dry eye and then all of the sudden flare up when encountering known triggers of dry eye which are high temperatures, high pollen and / or low humidity.
Treatment is customized to the type of dry eye diagnosed during an exam. Some patients benefit from plugs inserted into their drains in the front of the eye while others require eye drops or supplements that can be obtained over-the-counter. Prescription eye drops can be beneficial as well. For contact lens wearers I like to use daily disposable contacts if the patient's prescription allows.
A thorough eye exam is the first step in the process of properly diagnosing this condition.