Dry eyes can be undeniably and overwhelmingly bothersome. Although there are simple solutions available to alleviate dry eyes, most Albertans do not seek dry eye treatment. Not only is there effective relief from aggravating parched eyes, but ignoring these symptoms and leaving dry eyes untreated can lead to consequences down the road. If you have the following symptoms, book an appointment with an optometrist for an eye exam. An eye care professional will be able to assess your eyes’ health and determine if there are any root conditions, diseases, or concerns that could be causing your dry eyes. An optometrist can also recommend dry eye treatments available.
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The Incessant Symptoms of Dry Eyes
Dry eyes are so common that they can begin to feel status quo. If you are feeling discomfort for any reason, you should seek professional treatment.
If you notice any of the following dry eyes symptoms, you should book an eye exam:
- Itching feeling
- Soreness or burning
- Tearing
- Redness
- Eyes feel “tired”
- Grittiness
- The feeling of an obstruction in the eye
- Contact lens discomfort
- Floating mucus in the eye
Get a Professional’s Perspective on Your Dry Eyes
Annual eye exams will usually catch changes in the condition of your eye health, such as dry eyes. From there, your optometrist can also do dry eye-specific testing. Dry eyes can be diagnosed through various testing methods that optometrists can use to deduce the culprit of your eye discomfort. Some of the tools your optometrist may use to determine if you’re suffering from dry eye symptoms are:
- Conducting an in-depth eye exam that will delve into the history of your health and medical records.
- Tear production measurement
- Tear quality analysis
Finally, Dry Eye Relief with Treatment!
A qualified eye care professional will provide tailored treatment options once they arrive at a diagnosis. Treatment solutions will not be a one-size-fits-all process and may require some trial and error to discover the most suitable option for your dry eye care needs. While there are a few dry eye home remedies available, here are some of the dry eye clinic treatment options:
- Artificial tears
- Prescription eye-drops (such as Restasis)
- Steroid eye-drops
- Punctal plugs
- Warm compresses
Treatment varies depending on the cause of your dry eye symptoms. Dry eyes can result from clogged ducts in the eyelids that release oil to keep the inside of your eyelid (which touches your cornea) lubricated, so your tears don’t dry out. In this case, warm compresses can help to moisten and warm the blockages to be expressed. Steroid eye-drops and prescription eye drops are also great options to restore your tears. Punctal plugs are a more invasive option that can block tears from draining in order to keep your eyes lubricated with your tears. Your optometrist will be able to discuss which methods are suitable for your dry eye condition.
Get Back to Living Your Life Without Dry Eye Symptoms
Whether you've been living with dry eye symptoms for some time and are looking for a more effective treatment option than home remedies, or you're at the beginning of your dry eye care journey, it is always a good idea to consult your optometrist. Seeking dry eye treatment will not only help alleviate uncomfortable symptoms but will help protect your long-term eye health and vision. For dry eye clinic care, visit my optometrist in Calgary. Our Optometrists can diagnose, assess and treat your dry eye symptoms and help you choose the appropriate and most effective dry eye treatment options.
Schedule your appointment by calling our team at 403-280-7518 or filling in our online contact form below.
FAQ's
Can I wear contacts with dry eyes?
Your optometrist will conduct an eye exam and contact lens fitting to assess if you are a good candidate for contact lenses. There are specific brands available that work best for dry eyes, however, your optometrist may recommend you do not use contact lenses depending on the severity of your dry eye condition. Book an eye exam with your optometrist to discuss what options are available to you.
What are the consequences of leaving dry eyes untreated?
If dry eyes are not assessed, you run the risk of missing the mark entirely and leaving other harmful conditions to worsen. Dry eye symptoms could be a sign of something else such as immune system disorders. If you do have dry eyes, and they are left untreated, the dryness can lead to corneal scratching, corneal ulcers or abrasions and possibly even vision loss.
Are dry eyes preventable?
For many, dry eyes are a symptom of factors such as medication, use of digital devices or contacts, pregnancy, smoking and more. Due to the nature of these factors, as well as genetics and health conditions, dry eyes are not always preventable. However, in some cases by taking other prevention steps, dry eyes can be mitigated, managed or at least prevented from worsening.