IQ Lasik Blog.com

Dry Eye is an often dismissed condition, commonly mistaken for allergies or a just an everyday bother.  This disease can affect your vision and your ability to effectively perform important tasks such as driving or using the computer. Those who suffer from this condition may not even know they have it, though there is no cure for Dry Eye, there are ways to improve the condition and your eyesight.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry Eye and Chronic Dry Eye are conditions that are a result of poor tear quality. In people with normal tear production, the eye produces a combination of oil, water and mucus elements to saturate the eye naturally. Those who suffer from Dry Eye have trouble producing this mixture.

A few common symptoms of Dry Eye include:

• Eye dryness
• Blurry vision
• Eye pain
• A foreign sensation feeling in the eye
• Itching or scratchiness
• Light sensitivity
• Eye redness
• A stinging, burning sensation
• Eye irritation caused by wind, smoke, pollen or air-flown particles

This list should be used for reference not to diagnose Dry Eye, the only way to truly know and successfully treat the condition is to see your eye doctor.

Causes of Dry Eye

There are many factors that contribute to Dry Eye, some of them include hormonal balances such as pregnancy, menstruation, menopause or the natural aging process; over time, eye lose much of their lubricating properties. Other causes that contribute are thyroid problems, medical conditions and certain medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Patients with Dry Eye have reduced ability to create a naturally-occurring tear film that protects, moistens and cleans the eye; a three-step process that happens every time you blink your eyes.  Tear film is comprised of electrolytes, nutrients, lubricants as well as proteins forming a barrier integral in maintaining eye health. Left untreated, Dry Eye can instigate eye damage, as well as spark infection and disease that may affect your vision.

Dry Eye Solutions

Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears to help the condition, in some instances, prescription medication is needed for more severe cases. Consult with your doctor and give detailed descriptions on your symptoms so they can appropriately prescribe medication.  Vitamins, such as Fish Oil, are also known to help lubricate dry eyes.

If artificial tears or other medications do not seem to work, another option your doctor may suggest is tear duct plugs. These are inserted by your doctor and hinder the duct that stops tear film production.

If you feel you may have Dry Eye, the following questions may help determine it:

1. Do you frequently use eye drops or artificial tears throughout the day?
2. Have you been using drops for several months or longer and have you tried more than 1 or 2 types?
3. Do your dry eyes impede you from activities such as computer use, watching television, reading or operating machinery?
4. Are you unhappy with the results you receive from your current eye drops?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you may have Dry Eye. Schedule an appointment today with IQ Laser Vision to check for Dry Eye or other symptoms. Dry Eye affects your day-to-day schedule, seeing an eye care professional can help with efficiency in work or school in addition to improving mood and sight.

By Jackqueline Christianson

The answer mostly depends on you but all contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the clear front surface of the eye (the cornea) and thereby increase the risk of eye problems to some degree.  Potentially serious contact lens complications include corneal abrasions, eye infection (including Acanthamoeba keratitis and fungal eye infections), dry eyes and corneal ulcers.  Some of these complications can cause permanent vision loss.

Your best defense against eye damage from contact lens wear is to follow the advice of your optometrist or ophthalmologist about how long to wear your contacts and how frequently you should replace them.  Your eye doctor will also tell you how long you can wear your lenses safely and whether your eyes can tolerate using extended wear contacts on a continuous basis or if you should wear contact lenses only for limited periods during the day.

Also, be sure to care for your lenses as directed, and use only the contact lens solutions your eye doctor recommends.  If there is a chance you might not keep up the daily lens care, ask about daily disposable contacts or you should consider Lasik. 

To avoid serious contact lens-related eye problems, ask yourself this three-part question at the start of each day of contact lens wear:

Do my eyes look good, see good and feel good?

1.  If your eyes are red or bloodshot, you may be developing dry eyes or an eye infection from your contacts.
2.  If your vision is not as clear as it once was, your lenses may be dirty, or your eyes may be swollen from lack of oxygen.
3.  And if your eyes are uncomfortable, you may have a corneal abrasion, the beginnings of a corneal ulcer, dry eyes or an eye infection.

If your daily self-assessment suggests you have a contact lens-related eye problem, remove your lenses immediately and call your eye doctor for an urgent appointment. If you do have an eye problem caused by your contacts, the sooner it is evaluated and treated by an eye care professional, the better.