Many people experience the discomfort of dry eyes. Dry eyes occur when the eyes aren’t sufficiently moisturized, leading to burning, redness and irritation.
Many Symptoms of Dry Eyes
Moisture and lubrication are essential for proper vision and comfort. When there is a problem in the tear system, patients may have a range of symptoms, including:
- pain
- light sensitivity
- burning
- itching
- redness
- blurry vision
- a gritty sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye
An Odd Symptom: Excessive Tearing
Strangely enough, sometimes people with dry eyes even have excessive tearing.
This is a result of a signal being sent to the nervous system for more lubrication. Unfortunately these tears do not have the composition of normal tears, so they do not provide relief and can be very annoying.
Many Causes of Dry Eyes
Dry eyes may be caused by a number of different things:
- cold weather
- aging
- menopause in women
- contact lens wearing
- medication side effects
- eyelids that don’t close properly
- diseases, such as Sjogren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dry air from air conditioning or heat can also be problematic.
Treatment for Dry Eyes
Dry eyes can be treated with artificial tears and ointments, temporary or permanent plugging of tear drains, medications (such as Xiidra and Restasis), or surgery.
If you’re located in central New Jersey, the eye experts at Atlantic Medical Eye Care can treat your dry eyes. Click here to learn more…
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