Having dry eyes isn’t just a nuisance; it’s actually a common medical condition that affects millions of people every year. It’s diagnosed by eye doctors when you are unable to provide enough high-quality tears to lubricate your eyes. The following list of symptoms and treatment options will help you manage it.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?

Aside from dryness, the most common symptoms of dry eye are itching, stinging, burning, redness, blurred vision, fatigued eyes, watery eyes, a mucous discharge, and a sensation that something is in your eye. If you drive at night, you may also notice increased difficulty seeing in the dark. Symptoms may appear after taking certain medications or after situational exposure, such as being on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, or staring at a computer screen for long periods.

How Does It Affect Your Vision?

Outside of physical discomfort or pain, eye dryness has very subtle effects on vision. In most cases, any blurriness or temporary vision loss is gone in a blink. Many people compensate for the blurriness by blinking more often. This response can lead patients to forget to mention all of their symptoms at their exam.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Once your eye doctor determines the underlying cause, they will recommend one or several treatments. The most common treatments include prescription eye drops, signing up for an in-office procedure, or making changes to your lifestyle. These changes may include quitting smoking, taking more breaks from screens, or getting a special pair of glasses to block blue light.

If you have chronic dry eye or situational irritation, consult the team at Lieblong Eye Clinic in Russellville, AR. Led by optometrist Dr. Jim Lieblong, they are the only accredited Dry Eye Treatment Center in River Valley and have been serving the community for 40 years. They offer everything from eye exams to luxury frames. Call (479) 968-2020 to speak with a member of their team or visit their website to learn more about treating eye dryness.