Are your eyes red, dry, and irritated? You may have dry eyes.
An eye exam is a perfect time to let your eye doctor know about the symptoms you’re experiencing. Your eye doctor can accurately diagnose dry eyes during an eye examination, provide an effective treatment plan, and ensure your eyes are feeling and seeing their absolute best.
Keep reading to learn more about dry eyes and when to book an eye exam to discuss your dry eyes!
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eyes occur when your eyes produce too little or low-quality tears. You can also have dry eyes due to environmental factors, underlying health conditions, and certain medications like nasal decongestants, acne medications, and antihistamines.
In some cases, at-home treatments may improve dry eye symptoms. However, if these remedies do not adequately eradicate dry eye symptoms, you may need to seek professional help.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Although dry eye can manifest different symptoms in different people, the common signs and symptoms of dry eyes include:
- Redness
- Irritation
- Burning sensation
- Blurry vision
- Foreign body sensation
- Stringy mucus in and around your eyes
Home Remedies for Dry Eyes
These simple home remedies may alleviate your dry eye symptoms. If these methods do not adequately resolve your dry eye symptoms, visit your eye doctor at Morganton Eye & Surgery Centers for additional help.
Rest Your Eyes
Spending too much time in front of digital screens can take a toll on your eyes and even cause your eyes to be dry. If you constantly use your computer, tablet, laptop, or smartphone, make sure you take frequent screen breaks to reduce dry eye symptoms.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule where after every 20 minutes, you look away at something that’s about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Also, remember to blink regularly.
Deliberately blinking more often replenishes your tear film. This moisturizes your eyes and keeps dry eyes at bay.
Use a Humidifier
When humidity levels are low, your tears evaporate faster, which can make your eyes dryer. A humidifier maintains adequate humidity levels in your home and can ease the symptoms of dry eyes.
You can also sleep with a humidifier in your room which may help prevent dry eye symptoms in the morning.
Apply a Warm Compress
Soak a clean, lint-free towel in a bowl of warm water and wring out the excess water. Next, place the towel over your eyes for about ten minutes.
If your compress cools down, resoak it in warm water and repeat the process. It’s best to do this a couple of times daily for several days.
The heat from a warm compress soothes irritation caused by dry eyes. It further stimulates the production of oil, which is a necessary component of tears and is essential in improving eye comfort.
Stay Hydrated
Remaining hydrated throughout the day is an excellent way to ensure there is enough moisture for your eyes. For proper eye health, drink eight to ten glasses per day.
When to Book an Eye Exams for Dry Eyes
If you have persistent dry eye symptoms and your discomfort seems to be present even with at-home treatments, it may be time to see your eye doctor. Your eye doctor has the expertise to determine the root cause of your symptoms and recommend an individualized treatment plan for dry eye relief.
Find Dry Eye Relief from Morganton Eye
When left untreated, dry eyes can result in complications that affect your vision and quality of life. That’s why it’s best to see the trusted eye doctors at Morganton Eye if you’re experiencing dry eye symptoms.
Want to find lasting relief for your dry eyes? Schedule an appointment at Morganton Eye & Surgery Centers today to get the help you need!
