If you’ve ever suffered from dry eyes, you know just how painful they can make things. For residents in Columbia, MD, Medical Eye Center has helped locals with their eyes for more than 45 years. As an accredited dry eye center, the physicians help determine the cause of dry eye and find attainable solutions for each patient. If you’re struggling with dry eyes, here’s what causes it and some treatment options available.

What Can Cause Dry Eyes?

There are various causes of dry eyes, such as immune disorders, staring at a computer too long, or not blinking quite enough. Ultimately, the best thing to do if you experience eye discomfort is to make an appointment with your eye doctor for an exam so they can determine to the root of your issue.

Lubricating Drops

More commonly known as artificial tears, drops and ointments are one of the most common types of treatments for dry eyes. Depending on the level of dryness you have, it will help you determine if a drop or ointment is the best option. Fortunately, there’s a wealth of over-the-counter lubricating drops, so ask your eye doctor what would be best for you to try out. They can also get you prescription-grade drops if needed.

Dietary Supplements

Sometimes our body is just not producing enough tears to help keep our eyes from drying out. After consulting with your eye doctor, they can point you in the right direction of supplements to try out. Some common options are fish oil, potassium, or flaxseed oil, but it can vary from patient to patient.

Surgery

If your ophthalmologist determines you have Dry Eye Syndrome and no treatments are working well for you, it may be time to discuss surgery. By closing the opening in the lid where tears can drain down your throat, it can prevent your tears from escaping and ensure they go straight to your eyes. Your eye doctor can determine if you’d be a good fit for this.

If you have dry, itchy eyes, don’t wait to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. For residents in Howard and Montgomery County, give the friendly and knowledgeable team at Medical Eye Center a call today at (410) 997-9900 to schedule an appointment. For more information on their team of doctors, visit their website.