The Best Treatment for Dry Eyes

Dry eye disease is one of the most common eye conditions among older adults. The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that more than 4.8 million people aged 50 years and above in the U.S. have this condition. However, dry eye disease can develop at any age. According to the National Eye Institute, this condition affects roughly 16 million Americans.

 

What Is Dry Eye Disease?

Also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye syndrome, this condition develops when your eyes are unable to stay wet. This causes your eyes to dry up, causing discomfort. In some cases, it can lead to vision problems.

 

What Causes Dry Eye?

Different factors can contribute to the development of dry eye disease. For example, you can experience dry eyes if your tears dry too quickly. Other causes include the inability to produce enough tears, environmental factors, the use of certain drugs, and eyelid problems.

 

This is a disease of the eye’s surface, which results from the tear film not working optimally. The tear film is important for good vision. It consists of three layers, which are:

 

• The Oily Outer Layer: This layer plays an important role in spreading the tear film across the eye’s surface, in addition to reducing tear evaporation
   

• The Watery Middle Layer: This layer helps wash the surface of the eye
   

• The Sticky Inner Layer: This layer helps spread the watery layer and coats the cornea, in addition to keeping the tear film on the surface of the eye
  
   

Your tear film needs to be in a state of equilibrium; otherwise, you may develop dry eye disease.

 

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Some of the common symptoms of dry eye disease include:

 

• Redness
   

• A burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
   

• Discomfort or difficulty when opening the eyes
   

• Sensitivity to light or blurred vision
   

• A foreign object sensation in the eyes
   

• A feeling of pressure in the eyes
  
   

Treatments for Dry Eye

Currently, dry eye syndrome lacks a permanent cure. However, several treatment options can help keep your eyes comfortable by maintaining moisture in them. These treatments can also reduce symptoms of dry eyes and protect your vision. Some of the dry eye treatments include pure and clean, MiBo Thermoflo®, Regener-eyes®, and prescription drops.

 

The treatment of dry eye syndrome centers on minimizing or removing environmental triggers. It also focuses on maintaining a functional and adequate tear film of the eye’s surface. If your eye doctor can remove or treat a single underlying cause, the symptoms should disappear. However, you also need to understand that this eye condition is part of the normal aging process.

 

You do not have to live with the symptoms of dry eye disease. For mild cases of dry eye disease, some over-the-counter eye drops work quite well. But for more serious cases, you should opt for prescription dry eye treatments.

 

Various dry eye procedures, such as punctal plugs and MiBo Thermoflo, are very effective. Talk to your eye doctor about the most appropriate treatment options for you.


 

To learn more about treatment for dry eyes, contact Hunter Family Vision at our offices in Leawood or Prairie Village, Kansas. You can call (913) 681-8555 or (913) 381-2323 today to schedule an appointment.