Your eyes need to maintain a healthy level of tears to see clearly. They provide lubrication in your eyes, keeping the corneal surface smooth and free from foreign matter. Problems with tear production rate or quality may lead to dry eye. Your expert eye doctor, Dr. Joel H. McGahen, OD, answers frequently asked questions about this condition.
Q: How Does Dry Eye Disease Develop?
Tears have generally three components: mucous, water, and oil. When combined, they prevent your tears from evaporating quickly to keep your eyes lubricated all the time. Any changes to the consistency or quality of any of these layers may cause your eyes to dry.
Q: Who Are at Risk for Having This Problem?
Older women are more likely to develop dry eyes as part of the hormonal changes that may happen into their adulthood. Those who have lived in dry climates for a long time may also have a higher risk of having this problem. Overusing your blue light-emitting gadgets and smoking may make you more likely of having dry eyes as well. If you have any of these risk factors, we advise seeing your reliable optometrist for an eye exam immediately.
Q: How Do I Know If My Eyes Are Dry?
Your eyes may appear red, itchy, and watery. Some may feel a burning or painful sensation. You may also have a reduced tolerance to doing close work, like reading, sewing, or cooking, because of the lack of moisture in your eyes. You may have a hard time applying or removing your contact lenses as well.
Q: What Are the Available Remedies?
We advise eating cold-water fish, which is rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids to keep your eyes moisturized. We may also prescribe artificial tear drops and anti-inflammatory medications to improve your visual comfort. It may be best to use eyeglasses for the time being as well. For more severe cases, we may block your draining channels or apply punctal plugs to prevent your tears from rapidly emptying.
If you have any further questions about dry eyes, call us at (717) 609-4443 or complete our form. We serve Chambersburg and nearby PA areas.