What to Know About Dry Eye From Our Chandler Optometrist
If your eyes feel gritty, hurt, or appear red, you could have a condition known as dry eye. While over-the-counter eye drops could help, it isn't always enough for people. For those who wear contacts, they may not be able to use the eye drops when they have their contacts in. However, an optometry specialist from Insight Eyecare & Eyewear, serving Ocotillo and the surrounding areas, can help.
Definition of Dry Eye and What Causes It
Dry eye is a condition any optometrist on our team has seen frequently. When you have this particular issue, your eyes don't produce an adequate amount of tears. In some cases, you may not produce quality tears that hydrate your eyes enough.
Age is a leading factor in the onset of dry eye since as you age, it's possible that your eyes won't produce enough tears or the quality of them diminishes. The condition is most common in people who are over the age of 65.
Gender is another reason for dry eye. Women are more likely to have it than men since hormones can play a role, especially during pregnancy and menopause.
Certain medications may cause dry eye including blood pressure medications, antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants. The use of contraceptives may lead to dry eye as well.
Other causes are as follows: environmental factors and some medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems, and rheumatoid arthritis. Having LASIK eye surgery can cause dry eye as well.
How an Optometrist Can Help
An optometrist at Insight Eyecare & Eyewear can assist you by detecting the problem based on your symptoms and performing an evaluation of your eye. Once we identify you have dry eye, our first course of action is often eye drops that help lubricate your eye.
Our eye doctor may recommend changing the type of contacts you use since some are known for causing dry eye. Although there aren't specific brands created for people with dry eye, certain ones help promote air flow better and are generally more comfortable. We often advise patients to choose daily contacts in order to reduce the chances of the contacts drying out.
If prescription eye drops and eyewear changes alone don't adequately manage your symptoms, our eye doctor may perform a procedure known as Lipiflow. This particular treatment uses thermal pulsations delivered through a sterile device that massages your inner and outer eyelid to help clear blockage. The treatment is safe since we only use an applicator one time, and the heat and vibrations aren't known to cause side effects in a majority of people.
Schedule an Appointment With Insight Eyecare and Eyewear Today!
If you have dry eye, contact our optometry office at Insight Eyecare & Eyewear, serving Chandler, AZ and the surrounding region, by calling 480-883-0900 today.