When you think of eye problems, several issues may come to mind, like changes in near and farsightedness, as well as floaters, blurriness, or problems seeing things while driving at night.
Moisture is a necessity for your eyes. Without it, you struggle a lot more with eye irritation, the inability to fend off infections, or small particles that can damage the eye’s surface.
A lack of proper moisture in your eyes can occur for many reasons, and if you deal with chronic issues, it can affect your light sensitivity and cause blurriness.
Dry eyes are a vision problem that results from inadequate amounts of fluid in the eyes, and if you’re dealing with it, you should know how it happens, what signs to look for, and what we can do to treat it.
If you live in the Frederick, Maryland, area and are struggling with dry eyes or other vision problems, turn to Dr. Sunil Thadani, Dr. Brian Chado, and certified physician assistant Elvis Salas, and our dedicated staff at the Maryland Vision Center.
When your eyes don’t have the fluids that keep them moist, it results in damage to the tear layer that covers your corneas. There are three main types of dry eye syndrome: aqueous-deficient dry eye, evaporative dry eye, and a combination of both called mixed.
Several issues can cause dry eyes, including:
Chronic dry eye issues can lead to complications, including corneal scarring, corneal ulcers, vision problems, and eye infections.
To determine if you're dealing with dry eyes, look for these signs:
This can occur when you experience burning, grittiness, or stinging in your eyes.
If things look slightly blurry or your vision fluctuates, it can be a sign of dry eyes. While irritating, this is not a permanent eye problem.
Moisture is necessary for contact lenses to work correctly, and if they’re uncomfortable when you wear them, dry eyes can be the cause.
A lack of moisture in your eyes can make you sensitive to light, which is necessary for clear vision.
Mucus that comes out of your eyes can result from a lack of proper fluids in them.
As bizarre as this sounds, this happens if the water layers on your eyes evaporate too quickly, because your meibomian glands (which produce the oils that help keep fluid in your eyes) aren’t making enough oil. As a result, your eyes water in an attempt to compensate.
Eye drops can help you manage dry eye issues. They’re available over the counter or by prescription, as needed. Prescription drops and ointments are better able to target specific problems that cause dry eyes.
If issues with your tear ducts are responsible, we can provide temporary or permanent punctal plugs to restore normal tear levels.
Medications like cyclosporine can help increase tear levels and create more fluid in your eyes, and supplements like omega-3 fatty acids can also be beneficial, in addition to other methods.
Dry eyes can be frustrating, and they occur for many reasons, but whatever the cause, we can help. Contact us at Maryland Vision Center today to treat your dry eyes and other vision problems.
