Have your eyes been feeling dry lately? While it’s normal for almost anyone to experience this occasionally, if you’ve been noticing your eyes are feeling dry quite often, you may have dry eye syndrome. Most of us blink nearly 12,000 times a day. While most people won’t notice this unconscious movement, for those with dry eye syndrome, blinking can be a major source of discomfort. Keep reading to find out if you may have dry eye syndrome, what causes it, and how you can find dry eye relief.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Having dry eyes can be a major nuisance throughout your day. When your eyes are dry, the scratchy sensation from blinking can be both distracting and even painful. Dry eye occurs when your body isn’t producing the quantity and/or the quality of tears your eyeballs need to stay comfortably lubricated. A few dry eye causes can be the following:
- Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, birth control pills and more
- Aging: Dry eye syndrome is more common in those over 50 years of age
- Skin conditions such as rosacea or blepharitis can disrupt the meibomian glands
- Windy, smoky or dry environments
- Seasonal allergies
- Laser eye surgery
- Insufficient blinking which may occur from staring at digital screens
- Prolonged contact lens wear
Dry Eye Symptoms
So, how do you know if you may have dry eye syndrome? Ask yourself if you’ve been experiencing some, most, or all of the following dry eye symptoms:
- A constant scratchy feeling in your eyes
- Burning or stinging sensations in your eyes
- Episodes of excess tears followed by excess dryness, discharge, pain, and eye redness
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Excess tearing
If you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, we encourage you to make an appointment with your Kelowna Optometrist to discuss a personalized solution to find dry eye relief.
Finding Dry Eye Relief
If you think you may have dry eye syndrome, there are a few steps you can take to manage your symptoms. In addition to making an appointment with your optometrist in Kelowna, you may want to start with checking any medications you’re on. Prescription drugs and even seasonal allergy medication can hinder your tear production and contribute to dry eye syndrome. While it may be tempting to rub your eyes, doing so can transfer more irritants into your eye and disturb your eye’s tear film, making them feel even more uncomfortable. Since hormones can also play a role in your tear production, limiting your intake of sugary and processed foods while focusing on a balanced diet can help keep insulin levels and inflammation under control. Lastly, using artificial tears, blinking, and drinking more water can help your eyes stay lubricated throughout the day.
iSight Optometry: Service That’ll Bring a Tear to Your Eye
Here at iSight, we understand how uncomfortable struggling with dry eye syndrome can be. If you’d like to find out more about dry eye syndrome we encourage you to book an appointment today. We’re always welcoming new patients and would be happy to work with you to find a personal solution for dry eye relief.