Dry Eye

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What is Dry Eye?

The tears on the surface of our eyes act as a barrier to keep out irritants and to keep our vision clear. If your eyes feel scratchy or irritated, you may be experiencing dry eye. This happens when the eye does not produce the appropriate quantity and/or quality of tears.

Some people wonder how they can have dry eye if their eyes are watering. But overly wet eyes can still be a sign of dry eye, as your eyes may be producing tears with the wrong balance of ingredients.

What causes Dry Eye?

Some of the most common causes of dry eye include:

environmental allergies
exposure to dry air due to weather or heating/air conditioning
diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjorgren’s syndrome, lupus, and thyroid disease
eyelid conditions like blepharitis
side effects of certain medications
ageing

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

An imbalanced tear film can cause:

light sensitivity
intermittent blurry vision
redness
excessive tearing
stinging, burning, or gritty sensations

Causes

Some of the most common causes of dry eyes include:

allergies
diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjorgren’s syndrome, lupus, and thyroid disease
conditions like blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction
medications
ageing
poorly fitted contact lenses

How We Can Help

We offer a range of different treatments to relieve the discomfort of dry eye:

non-prescription artificial tears – high-quality, preservative-free artificial tears to keep your eyes moist
prescription eye drops – specifically designed to treat dry eye
eyelid care – lid cleaning wipes to help keep your eyelids free of bacteria causing irritation
warm compress masks – to help improve the quality of the tears
omega-3 nutrient supplements – for long-term improvement of the tear film

If home treatment is not enough, we can also discuss in-office treatments to help with more severe cases.