Dry Eyes
Dry eye disease is a condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when the water component in tears evaporates too quickly, resulting in discomfort, irritation, and can lead to vision impairment. This condition is quite common and affects millions of people worldwide. There are several factors that contribute to dry eye disease, including aging, hormonal changes, certain medications, and environmental factors like air conditioning or dry climates. Eye fatigue associated with prolonged focus or use of screens also tends to worsen dry eye disease. This is hard to avoid with the demands of early use of computers, cell phones, and tablets for children; advancing age of our workforce; and the dependence on commuting and driving in our area.
Symptoms of dry eye disease vary for each person, but include:
- Fluctuating or reduced vision
- Dryness
- Burning
- Stinging
- Redness
- A feeling of grittiness or sand in the eyes
If left untreated, dry eye disease can lead to further complications, including corneal damage, secondary infections, and vision disturbances.
Are You Experiencing the Effects of Dry Eyes?
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Treatment for dry eye disease typically involves (1) using branded artificial tears or other topical lubricants (2) taking steps to reduce environmental irritants, and in some cases, (3) prescription anti-inflammatory eye drops and nasal sprays for dry eye and (4) in-office procedures or therapies, like TearCare, which reduces obstruction of oils in the glands which are responsible for coating the eye and keeping it smooth. It is also important to maintain good ocular surface health through practices such as regular eye exams, proper hygiene, and healthy lifestyle habits like staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet rich in omega oils.
Ocular surface health encompasses conditions like infections, inflammation, and degenerative diseases affecting the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, and other parts of the eye. A number of factors influence these conditions, including genetics, immunity, injuries, and environmental irritants.
By seeking help from the eyecare professionals at EyeCare Consultants of NJ, people experiencing these conditions and symptoms can get back on the road to comfort with a focus on prevention. Overall, maintaining good ocular surface health is crucial for preserving vision and preventing discomfort and complications..
We developed one of the first centers on the east coast dedicated to ocular surface health—The Center for Ocular Surface Excellence (COSE-ECCNJ)—and offer a team-approach using all the latest therapies at our disposal to give you the best ocular surface we can.
It’s “EyeCare because WeCare!”