Most of us have suffered from occasional dry eyes at some point in our life, but for some, dry eye is a part of daily life, but it doesn’t have to be.
What causes dry eye may vary from person to person. No matter what the cause, it can be far more than just irritating to deal with but may actually cause damage to your sensitive eyes. All eyes require a certain amount of nourishment and lubrication which is provided by tears naturally. When not enough tears are being produced, the eyes can become dry, scratchy and even blurry.
Dry eye may be caused by but are not limited to the following causes:
- Age – As we age, our eyes may begin producing less tears and for a large portion of the population this is naturally occurring with age.
- Environment – From smoke to wind, dry air and even forgetting to blink for longer than normal may all impact the amount of tears produced by your eyes.
- Gender – Certain changes in the chemistry of a woman’s body will make them more apt to suffer from dry eyes than men.
- Medical Conditions – Some medical conditions may have symptoms related to dry eyes. Ask your doctor if you are having issues with dry eyes.
- Medications – Certain medications for medical conditions may further exacerbate the situation making your eyes even more dry. Certain common medications such as decongestants and even antihistamines are known for making eyes dry.
If you are suffering from dry eyes, it is in your best interest to go get your eyes checked soon. Alpine Eye Care specializes in eye care including diagnosing and treating dry eye and other eye conditions and surgeries. A qualified and caring eye doctor, Alpine Eye Care has offices in 3 locations throughout Northern Michigan to help.
Treating Dry Eye May Begin At Home
For many suffering from dry eyes, it is not a common occurrence but may have simply been brought about by environmental factors such as a bonfire or spending to much time staring at the computer screen. For these people, simply blinking more, increasing the humidity level and using sunglasses and protecting your eyes from wind as well as drinking more water may help.
If dry eyes are continuously felt, a doctor may be required to help you. Some solutions may include artificial tear solutions or even eye drops prescribed to increase tear production. More extreme cases may be treated with silicon plugs to block the ducts to conserve tears or other topical solutions to treat inflammation of the eye surface. Talk to your eye doctor about what can help you.
If you are suffering from dry eye, contact Alpine Eye Care, a qualified eye doctor in Gaylord, Grayling and Cheboygan MI. Don’t wait for more serious issues to arise, make your eyes a priority and let Alpine Eye Care be your eye doctor.