The eyes are prone to many eye conditions. Most of these conditions come with age. Sadly, most people ignore some symptoms like soreness and irritation of the eyes. While people strive to stay healthy, they ignore eyes, which are a pivotal component of your overall health. If your eyes are red and painful, you may have a severe condition other than the apparent eye strain. Chances are you have dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a common disease that affects the eyes, and if left untreated, it can lead to vision problems.
We at West Village Eyecare Associates serving the New York, NY, Manhattan, NY, and West Village, NY, areas with NYC optometry, know a lot about dry eye syndrome.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye is typically when your tear ducts produce little or no tears. The protective film of moisture that shields your eyes against impurities and dust is not there or adequate, causing irritation and discomfort. Tears play an integral part in maintaining the health of the eyes.
The Risk Factors for Dry Eye
Dry eye syndrome can be due to various reasons. The major one, of course, is the lack of tear production. Other factors that contribute to dry eye include:
- Age: Most eye conditions develop as a person ages. Dry eye is not exceptional. Dry eye is a natural condition in older people because tear production reduces as they grow older.
- Medications: Some medications, like antidepressants and antihistamines, reduce tear production. In the end, you suffer from dry eye.
- Environment: Exposure to smoke, dust, wind, or dry climate leads to tears' evaporation, causing your eyes to dry fast.
- Gender: Dry eye is more dominant in women than in men. It's due to hormonal changes in women, especially during pregnancy and menopause.
- Medical conditions: If you have some medical conditions like diabetes, rosacea, and thyroid deficiency, you become prone to dry eye syndrome.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye can present dry eye symptoms in various ways but causes lots of irritation and discomfort. It feels like something is in the eyes all the time. Some of the common symptoms of dry eye may include:
- Blurred vision
- Sore eyes
- Irritation and pain in the eyes
- Constant urge to scratch your eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Red eyes
- Watery eyes
- Problem wearing your contact lenses
Dry Eye Treatment
The best effective way of treating any eye disease is when it's caught early. Eye doctors recommend annual eye exams to help them see these conditions early enough. If you have any of the above signs, be sure to visit an optometrist on our team for treatment. Treatment will reduce discomfort and keep your eyes healthy. The treatment approaches for dry eye may include:
- Over the counter eye drops
- Medications
- Surgery
In addition to the above treatment methods, an eye doctor at our practice may advise other dry eye management approaches. For example, he or she may recommend not to expose yourself to impurities or dry climate.
Contact Us for Dry Eye Management from an Optometrist Serving, New York, NY, West Village, NY, and Manhattan, NY
Leaving dry eyes untreated can lead to severe and permanent eye problems. Tears have more work than just mere comfort. If you have dry eye syndrome, visit our optometry team at West Village Eyecare Associates serving the New York, NY, Manhattan, NY, and West Village, NY, areas with NYC optometry, for dry eye treatment. Call us at (212) 242-6592.