Is Dry Eye Treatable?

September 30th, 2019

Dry eye is a common disease that causes its victims irritation, pain, and discomfort. If you have dry eye, you’re in luck, because it’s treatable.

Treatment of dry eye can fall under two categories: self-care and professional treatment. Keep reading for some tips on treating your dry eye symptoms!

Self-Care

Managing dry eye means changing your lifestyle, altering your living space, and using eye drops.

Lifestyle habits that you can change to reduce dry eye include:

Stopping Smoking

By smoking, you increase your chance of contracting other eye diseases. It also makes you more likely to suffer from other health conditions.

More than that though, the smoke from smoking irritates your eyes. This will often lead to dry eye syndrome.

If quitting cold turkey will not work for you, start by reducing your intake. Even better, try to wean yourself off with nicotine patches or other products.

Drinking Enough Water

Tears, of course, need water, so if you are not hydrated, they can be the first things to suffer. Staying hydrated is a vital part of keeping your eyes lubricated.

Wearing Protective Eyewear

Dust and debris can get in your eyes, which can cause damage and irritation. Also, UV rays from the sun can permanently damage your eyes.

Only wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Always wear them when going outside.

Change Your Environment

You can change your environment by sealing off drafts in your home. You can also buy humidifiers to increase moisture in the rooms that you spend the most time in.

Do your best to use radiant heat rather than blowing hot air as often as you can. These small things can help when you’re trying to keep your eyes from getting too dry!

Eye Drops

Eye drops are a much better way to deal with itchy eyes than rubbing them. Good technique will help you get the most out of them, as well as prevent infection.

When applying eye drops, instead of pointing the dropper into your eye; create a pocket in your lower lid. You can do this by pulling down on it with the index finger on the hand not holding the applicator.

Deposit one drop into the pocket at a time, allowing it to soak in for several seconds. This will allow you to decide if you need more.

This will stop overflow, which can introduce external bacteria. Make sure to wash your hands before and after.

Professional Treatment

If your dry eye is severe enough, you may need external help. Treatment may include punctal plug insertion, gland expression therapy, and prescription eye drops.

Punctal plugs are inserted into your tear ducts to prevent them from draining. Slower drainage means that the tears remain on the surface of the eye longer.

Sometimes the oil-producing glands in your eyelids become blocked. This oil is very important in preventing your tears from evaporating.

To fix this, doctors can use warm compresses and gentle pulses on your eyelids. This is with specialized machines that help open the glands up.

Prescription eye drops can help to further reduce inflammation. Proper eye dropping technique still applies here, so be sure to follow instructions.

Tired of living with the frustrating symptoms of dry eye syndrome? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Danny Lee at the Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL today!