With the current weather conditions in Calgary dryness in eye is more common to happen. It can be hard to carry out everyday tasks due to symptoms such as burning, irritation, itching, redness and sensation of something being stuck in your eyes.
At Bridgeland Crossings Optometry we diagnose and treat dry eye symptoms to help you carry out everyday tasks and helping your eyes being healthy.
The most common cause of dryness in eyes is increased tear evaporation. In other words, when your eyes don't produce enough tears to keep your eyes moisturized or if your tear glands don't work properly. This can make your eyes feel uncomfortable and sometimes may lead to serious vision problems. Therefore, you don't want to ignore the common symptoms of dryness.
Types of Dry eye disease (DED)
There are mainly two types of DED: Aqueous tear deficiency (ATD) and evaporative dry eye. If you have ATD, your eyes mainly fail to produce enough watery components of tears whereas the failure to produce enough oil to keep tears from evaporating is evaporative dry eye.
Contact your optometrist right away if you suspect you have dry eyes.
Symptoms of dry eyes
Tips to alleviate the symptoms
Symptoms of Dry eyes:
redness
sensitivity to light
itchiness
blurry vision
feeling that something is stuck in your eyes
Tips to alleviate the symptoms:
1. Stay hydrated
This is the most easiest and safest way soothe your eyes. If you are constantly dehydrated your eyes get affected too. So make sure to drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
2. Wear protective glasses in certain environmental conditions
It is very important to wear proper type of glasses in certain conditions. For example if you are working in a dusty environment, it is recommended to wear wraparound glasses to minimize the contact of dust with your eyes.
Dry eye symptoms can get worse due to wind , dust or other environmental factors. To reduce exposure to harsh elements it is advised to use protective glasses so that your eyes don't get irritated.
See your optometrist today to get your eyes tested and have proper prescription to get sunglasses or regular glasses for your everyday use.
3. Avoid eye makeup
Certain types of makeup can clog your Meibomian glands which secrete oils. This can prevent them from secreting the oils that your eyes need for lubricating your eyes.
4. Use warm compress
using warm compress can help release oil in your glands hence improving the quality of your tears. Also, make sure to wash your eyelids with a cloth or use lip wipes to remove any excess debris.
5. Use appropriate drops
Contact your optometrist to find the drops that would work best for your eyes to create more lubrication in your eyes. Every eye is different and can have different level of dryness, therefore making sure you're using the right drops is very crucial. Also, don't forget to mention your allergies to your doctors.
6. Follow the 20-20-20 rule
This is one of the most effective ways to help you reduce symptoms at your home. Every 20 minutes, look up from your screen and focus on an object that is approximately 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This will also help you to reduce eye strain.
7. Include Omega-3 in your diet
Including omega-3 in your diet will help in improving the function of Meibomian gland as it will produce more oil in your tears. If you prefer not to take supplements, increasing intake of fish or sea food in general can help.
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