What Are the Treatment Options for Dry Eyes?

Optometrist in Monterey, CA

Our tears play a vital role in maintaining our eye health. A tear contains water that provides moisture, oil for lubrication, antibodies that prevent infections, and mucus that evens the spread of everything. The tears are produced by special glands found around the eyes. However, because of certain factors, these glands may get affected and impair the production of tears. This will cause dry eye syndrome. 

 

Dry eyes occur when you don’t produce enough tears, or they evaporate quickly, and it can be acute or chronic. Several factors can cause dry eyes like age. As we age, the tear production may decrease and cause the eyes to become dry. Other causes include medication, computer use, laser surgery, menopause, wind exposure, and vitamin A deficiency. 

 

Dry eyes can cause pain, redness, and a burning sensation. You may at times experience watery tearing. This occurs when a lack of tears irritates the eyes and sends a distress signal to the nervous system to stimulate lubrication. In response, the body sends tears to reduce dryness. You will have a flood of tears, but this will be only water and may therefore not lubricate as it should or wash the debris away. This phenomenon is called reflex tearing. 

What are the Available Treatments? 

At times, a dry eye is a result of an underlying condition that may decrease the production of tears. Your eye doctor in Monterey, CA, may opt to correct the underlying condition and hence correct the dry eye problem. Sometimes a change in your dose of the current medication may do the trick. 

 

However, if that is not the cause, the doctor may use any of the following as part of your dry eye treatment in Monterey, CA.

 

Medications

The doctor may prescribe medication to treat the dry eyes such as:

• Anti-inflammation drugs to ease the inflammation of your eyelids. These drugs can be taken orally as an ointment or eye drops.
• Eye drops for the cornea. Prescription eye drops can help control the inflammation in the cornea.
• Artificial tears are available as prescription and you can also buy them from your local drug store. The doctor may prescribe drops to mitigate chronic dry eyes caused by aging and hormonal imbalance.
• Eye inserts work like artificial tears. The doctor will insert tiny inserts between your lower eyelid and the eyeball. These inserts will dissolve slowly and release a substance that lubricates the eyes. 

 

Procedures

Apart from the medication, the doctor may perform other procedures like:

• Close your tear duct. The doctor can partially or completely close your tear ducts. If the tears do not have a way of draining, the tears will stay for longer and lubricate the eyes. Punctal plugs are used to perform this procedure. 
• Special contacts are designed to protect the surface of the eye and prevent moisture from evaporating. This treatment is recommended if you have a chronic dry eye caused by tears evaporating too quickly.
• Lipflow thermal pulsation is done to clear the blocked oil glands using heat and pressure to unclog the blocked glands.

 

Natural treatments

You can use natural remedies to correct dryness in your eyes such as:

• Warm and wet cloth help to ease the pain as well as clean the eyes
• Massage your eyelids
• Omega-3 supplements can help reduce the inflammation in the body and relieve the symptoms.
• Castor oil eye drops can also help to reduce tears evaporation.

 

Lifestyle 

Changing your lifestyle and environment can improve the symptoms:

• Use a cool humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day 
• Avoid smoking and limit exposure to secondhand smoke 
• Blink often when reading or using the computer
• Wear glasses to prevent tears from evaporating

 

Alternative therapies 

Acupuncture and Intense-pulsed light therapy can help reduce chronic dry eye symptoms. It is reported that acupuncture reduces pain and inflammation which can help decrease the irritation in the eyes and therefore improve dry eyes.

 

Intense pulsed light treatment combined with eye massage can help ease the symptoms too.

What Are the Complications?

Dry eyes can lead to several complications such as eye infections. Without tears (that contain antibodies), you may be at an increased risk of infections. If left untreated, dry eyes can lead to abrasion of the cornea, eye inflammation, and vision loss. You may also experience decreased quality of life as it makes it difficult to perform your daily activities.

 

Bottom Line 

While you have no control over aging-related dry eyes, you reduce the symptoms by avoiding situations that can cause a decrease in tear production.

• Do not use direct car heaters, air conditioners, or hair dryers around your eyes.
• Add moisture into your indoor air 
• Wear sunglasses to shield the eyes from wind and dry air.
• Take breaks when using computers or reading 
• Stop smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
• Use artificial tears 

Visit Eye MD Monterey in Upper Ragsdale Drive for more information on how to prevent dry eyes.