Treatment for Dry Eyes

People with allergies know that it can sometimes be difficult to even step outside of your front door. Dry conditions and irritants in the environment can lead you itchy and burning eyes that make you want to find relief as quickly as possible. Dry eye is not limited to just people with allergies, however. The condition can be a result of a number of different factors, which is why it is important to recognize the symptoms and causes so you can talk with your doctor about getting the treatment you need.

Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly or when the tears are not the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye are the two types of the condition that affect about 12 million Americans. It can occur in women who are pregnant or as a side effect of some medications such as antihistamines, nasal decongestants and certain blood pressure medication. The most common cause of Dry Eye Syndrome is a condition known as Blepharitis, which is present in nine out of 10 cases.

Symptoms of dry eye include irritation, dryness and redness and vision disturbance. You may find that your eyes tear up more than usual and are sensitive to light. Instances of excessive tears may be followed by long dry spells, and dryness can lead to patchy loss of cells in your cornea. If you use soft contact lenses and experience dry eye, talk with your eye doctor about using a different type of lens and getting a solution that can clean out your glands causing the problem.