Now and then we just can't seem to create enough tears or our tears don't have the correct qualities to keep our eyes healthy and wet. This can bring about an absence of adequate oil and moisture on the surface of the eye, known as dry eyes.
The eye is continually moisturizing itself with tears by creating them at a gradual rate, keeping itself damp and agreeable. Tears are comprised of three layers, a slick oily layer, a watery layer, and a mucus layer. Every layer has a particular part in moisturizing and protecting your eyes. The oily layer is the outermost layer, and its job is to moderate evaporation of the tears. The watery layer is the center layer, and makes up the greater part of what we ordinarily consider as tears. This layer cleans the eye and washes away little outside items and particles. The internal layer comprised of mucus permits the watery layer to adhere to the eye and spread equitably over the eye with a specific end goal - to keep it oiled. A person with dry eyes, caused either by hormonal changes, reactions from medications they are taking, or some other component, causes the eye to either not create enough tears, or to not make enough of the parts of the tear that make appropriate lubrication of the eye.
Dr. Randy Fuerst, of EYEcenter Optometric, Sacramento Valley, CA clarifies, "Side effects of dry eyes commonly include a stinging or burning feeling in the eyes, scratchiness, and unreasonable aggravation from smoke or wind. Despite the fact that it might sound illogical, the eyes' reaction to the steady aggravation brought about by dry eyes may likewise bring about one to encounter extreme tearing. For this situation, the eye is endeavoring to flush and oil itself by delivering more tears, yet can't do as such effectively because of the rate of evaporation or powerlessness to spread the tears legitimately."
Albeit sometimes dry eyes are not always curable, there are many treatments which will make dry eye manageable and life comfortable again. Some treatments are performed in our office, as well as prescription medications and over-the-counter options such as artificial tears. Artificial tears to help with a portion of the symptoms. These artificial tears are moisturizing eye drops that may help with the dry, and scratchy feeling in the eyes. Some artificial tears replace parts of the tear that your eyes are not creating by itself, others simply deliver more tears to the eye.
Your eye specialist will help you to pick which will help you most. Dr. Fuerst alerts, nonetheless, "These fake tears ought not be mistaken for eye drops that are promoted to 'get the red out.' These eye drops may without a doubt diminish the presence of redness in your eyes, however this is accomplished by making the veins in your eyes littler as opposed to really adding more oil and moisture to your eyes. All things considered, these drops can once in a while really aggravate your symptoms. One ought to likewise know that if you wear contact lenses, some eye drops require you to take them out before utilizing the drops and to wait up 15 minutes or more before reinserting them."
A few instances of dry eyes are completely normal, for example, those which happen as a consequence of chilly or dry winter air. For this situation, your eye specialist may suggest wearing shades or goggles when outside in order to lessen your eyes' exposure to the environmental elements. For inside, your optometrist may prescribe a better air filter, cleaner and humidifier to remove irritants from the air and add dampness to air which is excessively dry.
Research has additionally proven that good nutrition can effectively elevate some, if not all side effects of dry eyes. Your eye specialist may prescribe nourishing supplements, for example, omega-3. Great sources of omega-3 are cold-water fish, cod, herring and salmon, and also flaxseed oil. Slight dehydration can exacerbate dry eye symptoms as well, so make certain to drink a lot of water.
For more information, and to have Dr. Fuerst help you with your dry eyes, make certain to schedule an exam today.
