Dry eye disease (or DED) brings on a variety of symptoms that can interrupt your day and even cause preventable damage to the surface of your eye. These symptoms can include: watery eyes, blurred vision, red eyes/eyelids, and even blinks that burn or feel sandy/gritty. Of course, every case of DED is different and you may cycle through symptoms at different times of day. The eye care professionals at 20/20 Eye Care have compiled a few tips to help manage your symptoms.
- Hydration
Hydrating yourself is arguably the most important step you can take in your self care routine. While it’s just as important to hydrate your body by drinking water, you also have to consider outside factors. This can include using a humidifier in your home, increasing your use of artificial tears, and using proper skin care to hydrate the skin around your eyes.
- Lid Care
Your eyelids not only provide protection to your eyes, but they house important (meibomian) glands that help create quality tears. Eyelid cleansing wipes remove irritants and excess oils that can clog your meibomian glands. These wipes when used in conjunction with heated eye masks can help create a healthy environment for healthy tears. In certain cases, an in office treatment to clean your eyelids might be appropriate. There are also treatments that use radio frequency (RF) and intense pulsing light (IPL) to help your eyelids function properly.
- Visiting your OD
A regular evaluation by your optometrist can help assure that your hard work in minimizing your symptoms is also helping improve the health of your ocular surface. Your OD can help customize your dry eye treatment by assessing the root cause of your symptoms. In most cases, prescription drops can be added to your treatment regimen to help increase tear production or reduce inflammation.
- Over-The-Counter Drops
The drop aisle at your local pharmacy can be intimidating with each box having their own list of promises. A good rule of thumb is to find drops that act as your natural tears, commonly called “artificial tears”. Avoid any drops that promise to “get the red out” or treat infections. Your eye care professional can give you the names of trusted brands and even recommend a specific drop for your dry eye needs.
- Taking Care of YOU
There are common diagnoses that can cause dry eyes or make dry eye symptoms worse. Make sure that you’re taking care of your overall health by visiting your primary care doctor regularly. Establishing communication between your primary care and your eye care professional can assure success in treatment of your dry eye disease.
- Daily Product Evaluation
We recommend an evaluation of products that you come into contact with regularly. This includes hair products, skin care products, makeup, and even laundry detergent. This can help narrow down any irritants that may be causing dry eye symptoms.
We’re glad that you’re taking your dry eye symptoms into your own hands, but remember that symptoms can be half the battle. If you’re looking for the help of an eye care professional that specializes in dry eye, you can schedule your appointment with one of our optometrists by calling 256-536-4489.
