Key Takeaways
- Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears or when your tears are poor quality.
- Stinging, grittiness, blurry vision, and even watery eyes can all be signs of dry eye.
- Screen time, dry air, age, hormones, previous eye surgery, health conditions, and some medications can all play a role.
- Your eye doctor can check your tears with simple tests and suggest home and in-office treatment options to help you feel more comfortable.
The Symptoms of Dry Eye
By mid-afternoon, your eyes sting and the words on your screen start to blur. You blink hard, and things clear up for a moment, but eventually the blur creeps back. Many people who visit our team at Waterloo Vision Care Clinic describe this same pattern without knowing what’s behind it.
You may have dry eyes if your eyes often feel gritty, burning, or tired, if your vision blurs and clears as you blink, or if your eyes water often. A dry eye consultation at Waterloo Vision Care Clinic can help you learn what’s going on and how to find relief.
What Are Dry Eyes?
Dry eye disease happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears or when your tears evaporate too quickly. Dry eye can affect how your eyes feel and how clearly you see. Some days you might barely notice the problem. On other days, however, even basic screen work might be a struggle.
Common Signs of Dry Eye
Dry eye shows up differently for everyone. How your eyes feel and how well you see can guide your eye doctor towards the right treatment.
How Your Eyes May Feel
You may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Your eyes sting, burn, or feel gritty.
- It feels like sand or an eyelash is stuck in your eye.
- Your eyes look red or feel itchy and irritated.
Changes to Your Vision
Dry eyes can also change the properties of your vision. You might experience:
- Blurry vision that clears up when you blink.
- Bright lights or sunshine that feel harsh on your eyes.
- Your symptoms get worse when you read or look at screens.
What Can Contribute to Dry Eyes?
Your Daily Habits & Surroundings
Your routine and environment can affect your tears in a few ways:
- You tend to blink less during long stretches of screen time.
- Wind, smoke, dry air, and air conditioning can leave your eyes feeling parched.
- Wearing contact lenses for many years can play a role.
Age, Hormones, & Your Overall Health
Your body and health history matter too. In particular, the following all contribute to dry eye:
- Dry eyes are more common in adults over 40.
- Hormone changes during pregnancy and menopause can affect your eyes.
- Health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, and Sjögren syndrome are linked to dry eyes.
Medications & Eye Surgery
Some medications, including certain allergy, cold, depression, and blood pressure medicines, can affect your tears. Some people also notice reduced tear production after certain laser eye surgeries, such as LASIK and cataract surgery.
How Eye Doctors Check for Dry Eyes
A dry eye appointment is simple and comfortable. As your eye doctors in Kitchener-Waterloo, we can look at a few key areas during your visit:
- Your health, medications, and daily surroundings.
- Your eyelids and tear quality.
- How quickly your tears evaporate.
These details help us build a care plan around your life, from your screen habits to your health history.
Ways to Find Relief from Dry Eyes
Simple Comfort Tips for Home
Small changes at home can help your eyes feel more comfortable. Take regular breaks from your screen, run a humidifier in dry rooms, and drink water throughout the day.
Placing a warm compress on your closed eyelids for a few minutes can often be soothing. Sunglasses or wraparound glasses can shield your eyes from wind and smoke when you’re outside.
Potential Treatments
Your eye doctor may recommend one or more of these options:
- Preservative-free lubricating eye drops
- Prescription drops to calm your eyes or support tear production.
- Punctal plugs to slow how fast tears drain from your eyes.
- Warm compresses
- Nutrient supplements such as Omega 3’s
- In-office treatment such as Intense Pulse Light and Radiofrequency Heat
Why Regular Care Helps Your Eyes
Dry eyes are often a long-term condition. However, without care, ongoing dryness can affect the surface of your eyes. Regular visits let your eye doctor track how your eyes respond, so that they adjust your plan as your needs change. If your symptoms linger or change, book a visit with our team at Waterloo Vision Care Clinic.
Your eyes deserve to feel comfortable. We can help you find relief that fits.
