Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Dry Eyes
Are your eyes feeling itchy, dry, or burning lately? If so, you may have a condition known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eyes. Dry eyes are a common problem that has many causes but can be treated easily with several optometry treatments. Here at the Eye and Contact Lens Center in Kirkland, we have dry eye treatments that can meet your specific needs and reduce the symptoms.
The Causes of Dry Eyes
As mentioned before, dry eyes are the result of many problems. However, there are three main reasons why they occur.
- Shortage of tears: Dry eyes affect how you produce tears. Tears are necessary to keep the eyes moist, nourished, and healthy. A shortage of tears can be brought forth with age, by taking certain medications, by having specific health conditions, or by having laser eye surgery.
- Increased evaporation of the tears: Environmental factors like wind, smoke, and dry air can make the eyes drier. Blinking less when using an electronic device and having eyelid problems can also easily evaporate the tears from your eyes and cause this condition.
- Imbalance in the composition of the tears: The tears are made up of three components: oil, mucus, and water. Having a problem with one of the tear components can trigger this condition.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
The symptoms of dry eyes are painful and uncomfortable for some people, and they usually affect both eyes. Dry eye symptoms include:
- Blurry vision
- Eye fatigue
- Light sensitivity
- Eye redness
- A burning or stinging feeling in the eyes
- Irritated eyes, like something is in the eyes
- Watery eyes
The Seriousness of Dry Eyes
It is not uncommon for dry eyes to cause eye infections, damage to the eye’s surface, and a lower quality of life. It is also not uncommon for dry eyes to progress into a chronic condition. The best way to avoid these complications is to make sure you pay attention to the situations that may trigger your dry eye and see an eye doctor for an eye exam.
Dry Eye Treatment from Our Optometry Expert in Kirkland
After finding out the cause of your dry eyes and its severity, our optometrist may opt for medicated eye drops to keep your eyes properly hydrated or ointments to prevent dry eye symptoms from returning. Our eye doctor may even suggest that you have your tear ducts blocked to help keep the tears longer on your eyes and for you to take Omega-3 supplements to prevent dry eyes.
Visit the Eye and Contact Lens Center
If you are suffering from the effects of dry eyes, and live in the greater Kirkland areas, the Eye and Contact Lens Center is ready to help treat them. Whether your contact lenses are causing your dry eyes or environmental factors are playing a role, you don’t need to continue suffering when we have a solution for your dry eye problem. Call our Kirkland office at (425) 822-8204 to schedule an appointment with our optometry expert.