In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons that patients pay a visit to their eye doctor. We’ve all had those days where our eyes feel dry, tired and irritated. But what does it mean? And what if it persists?
Tears are essential for eye health and visual performance. They protect the eye from infections and lubricate the eye’s surface, keeping it moist and washing away dust and debris. When the eye fails to produce enough tears, or the tears are not of the correct consistency, dry eye can occur.
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Dry eye is often a chronic problem–particularly in older adults–although it can occur among any age group. Some possible causes of dry eye are:
Experiencing dry eye can be uncomfortable and bothersome. Symptoms vary from case to case, however some report blurred vision, light sensitivity, itching and redness and a gritty feeling in the eye. As ironic as it sounds, a common symptom of dry eyes is excessive tearing and watery eyes. This happens because when the eyes are dry, the body may overcompensate and produce too many tears.
If you feel that your eyes are dry throughout the day or on a regular basis, or if you experience any of the above symptoms, come in to see us. Based on the underlying cause of your dry eye symptoms, we will be able to offer information on certain treatment options. If you have any questions, call us or leave it in the comments below. Your eye health is important to us!
Top image by Flickr user Sarah Nichols used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.