Treating Dry Eyes

Dry eye syndrome (dry eye) is a condition that can make life hard to cope with. According to the American Journal of Ophthalmology, about 16 million adults in the country suffer from this condition. In research done by Gallup Poll, results showed that about 22 million Americans would get dry eye disease by the year 2022.
 

However, as much as the numbers might be alarming, it does not mean there is no reprieve for treating dry eyes. Treatments and remedies for his condition are available. Understanding dry eyes condition can help you deal with them.

 

Causes of Dry Eyes

Dry eye is a condition that results in an inability to produce enough tears to lubricate your eyes. Many reasons can lead to irregular tear flow. It can be due to inadequate tears or tears that are poor in quality. Either way, your eyes will lack adequate lubrication to perform normal functions. This may be due to inflammation in the eye, or because your tears evaporate too quickly.
 

You may also suffer from a temporary dry eye caused by environmental factors. You may experience symptoms of the condition as a result of being in a dry environment or from wearing your contact lenses for too long. On the other hand, chronic dry eye results from an underlying condition.
 

Fortunately, you can treat dry eye in several different ways. Your eye doctor will recommend ways to reduce the symptoms of dry eye. You can also use natural remedies to treat this condition at home. Some of the ways for treating dry eyes include:


 

Over-the-Counter Drugs

This is one of the most popular ways to treat this condition. Over-the-counter eye drops are widely available. Also known as artificial tears, they moisten your eyes to relieve the symptoms of dry eye. They may be all you need if you have moderate symptoms. You may also use ointments, but they can make your vision a bit cloudy for a while. Therefore, it is advisable to use them just before bedtime.

Restasis

If you do not wish to use artificial tears, you can use a prescription eye drop known as Allergan or Restasis. You can also use it in combination with artificial tears. In addition to lubricating the surface of your eye, it also reduces the inflammation caused by dry eyes. It also helps your body produce more tears to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable, and moist.

 

Eye Vitamins

Some scientific studies suggest that eye vitamins can help treat this eye condition. However, you should remain a bit skeptical about any herbal supplement, mineral, and vitamin that claim to treat the symptoms of dry eye. It is important to consult your eye doctor before relying on any supplement to treat your dry eye condition. According to observational studies, some vitamins can make a positive difference; however, research is ongoing.

Specialty Eye Masks

This is a good low-tech solution to help relieve dry eyes. Specialty eye masks are an easy-to-use, effective, and natural way to treat chronic dry eye disease. These hydrating eye masks continuously absorb and store moisture from the air. When you warm up the mask in your microwave, natural and clean moist heat begins to provide relief when you wear the mask. It also helps improve oil gland function, stabilize the tear film, and slow down tear evaporation.
 

Eye Inserts

If regular over-the-counter teardrops are not working for you, eye inserts may be the solution you are looking for. These clear, small inserts look like grains of rice. You insert them into your eyes like contact lenses. You place them between your lower eyelid and eyeball. They release medicine throughout the day, which keeps your eyes moist.

To learn more about dry eyes and how to treat the condition, visit Special Eye Care at our offices in Camp Springs, Maryland. You can also call (301) 298-3241 to book an appointment today.