Dry Eye Disease
Are you suffering from red, gritty or burning eyes?
Are your eyes hard to open in the morning?
Do your eyes water when you go outside on a cold day?
If so, you may be suffering from Dry Eye Disease.
What is dry eye disease?
Dry eye is a disease of the tears and eye surface that can have a profound effect on a person’s comfort, vision and quality of life. It is associated with either tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation. Dry eye affects more than 40% of the population and is most commonly found in the elderly, post-menopausal women and those living or working in conditions of low humidity and/or poor air quality.
The tear film lubricates the surface of the eye to prevent friction of the eyelids, it also flushes out debris and contains an antibacterial that helps prevent infections.
Symptoms
Symptoms of dry eye disease include:
- Grittiness
- Burning
- Pain
- Stinging
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
Consequently accurate diagnosis and grading of its severity is important in developing an effective treatment plan.
Diagnosis
At Holley Optometrists our eye examination allows time to conduct a thorough review of your symptoms and medications. The surface of the eye and eyelids are examined under high magnification, and appropriate dye tests are carried out when necessary. In certain cases the optometrist may make a referral to our Dry Eye Clinic to ascertain the cause of this condition and develop an appropriate management plan.
Treatment
We believe that patient education is foremost in the management of dry eye disease, and compliance with ongoing treatment is paramount to success.
Management of dry eye disease may involve one or more of the following:
- Blink exercises
- Eye drops/ointments
- Lid wipes
- Lid massage
- Dietary advice
- Review of medication
- Punctal plugs
- Food supplements
If you are having dry eye related symptoms please contact us to arrange an appointment to attend our Dry Eye Clinic.