Almost everyone has experienced dry eyes due to allergies or a windy day. But for as many as 26 million Americans, dry eye is chronic. The condition occurs when tears are few or of poor quality. Optometrists can prescribe treatment to handle the ongoing discomfort. Learn more about the condition and what can be done about it.

What Causes Dry Eye?

The risk of chronic dry eye increases with age and is more common in women than men. There are many different potential causes, ranging from environmental factors to medications, so you should speak with your optometrist about anything that might negatively affect your eyes. Dry eye causes may include:

• Environmental Factors: Windy or dry conditions, smoke, allergies, and extensive screen time
• Medical Conditions: Diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, and Sjogren’s syndrome
• Medications: Antidepressants, antihistamines, decongestants, hormonal birth control and hormone replacement, blood pressure medications, and tranquilizers

What Are the Symptoms?

Many of the symptoms of dry eye are obvious: dry, itchy, burning, red eyes. Others are more difficult to connect with the condition, such as the feeling you have something in your eyes, blurred vision, discharge, and pain when wearing contact lenses. One of the least obvious signs is watery eyes, which typically happens to overcompensate for the prolonged dryness.

How Is Dry Eye Treated?

If over-the-counter eye drops don’t alleviate your chronic dryness, it’s time for a visit to an optometrist. To address the current symptoms, they may prescribe stronger eye drops, but their focus will be on finding the cause. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, they may recommend protective eyewear.

When medication is the culprit, they can work with the prescribing doctor to find a suitable alternative. Other solutions may include changing the type of contact lenses you wear, reducing your exposure to certain allergens, and even inserting plugs into your eyes’ drainage holes to help them retain moisture.

With so many non-invasive treatment solutions for dry eye, there’s no reason to put off talking with Nelson O. Yoshioka, Jr, OD, in Honolulu, HI. Since 1998, Dr. Yoshioka and his staff have assisted Oahu residents of all ages with their eye care needs. This optometrist will conduct a thorough eye exam, review your symptoms, and discuss potential causes to help you find relief from dry, itchy, or burning eyes. He can also provide you with new contact lenses or prescription glasses. Call (808) 734-7050 to schedule an appointment, and visit the website to learn more about their services.