By Dr. Gary Goberville
Blinking helps lubricate and moisten our eyes so they don’t feel dry. If you’ve experienced hot, dry winds blowing into your face, you know that unpleasant “sandpaper eyes” feeling. For some, that feeling of dry, irritated eyes stays with us. Sometimes eyes don’t produce enough tears to moisten and those tears don’t drain properly. This condition is common when we get older. Eye doctors call it “keratoconjunctivitis sicca,” but you probably know it by “Dry Eye Syndrome.”
Dry Eye Syndrome, or “DES,” affects people over the age of 40 with symptoms including:
• Itchy eyes • Red, bloodshot eyes • An increased sensitivity to light
If you think, “That’s how I felt last week,” think about what you were doing. Were you in a hot, windy environment, an office with air constantly blowing onto your face, or staring at a computer or TV screen for a long time? A constant breeze can dry out our eyes and staring intently at monitors can cause us not to blink as often as we should. When this happens, we don’t receive the moisture our eyes need. If you weren’t trekking across the Sahara Desert and are finding that your eyes feel dry more often than they used to, then you may have dry eyes.
While common, DES isn’t something you’ll simply “get over.” Your eye doctor will prescribe treatment that you’ll need to stick with to help alleviate the condition. Treatments may include:
• Applying eye drops – For chronically dry eyes, applying moisture by using artificial tears throughout the day may help. Our tears are more than just water. They also contain ingredients that help fight infection and lubricate the eye. Splashing water in your face won’t do the trick.
• Ointments and other medications – If you need a little help getting those tears to start flowing, prescription medications are available that may help. Ask your eye doctor.
• Surgery – With surgery for DES, the ducts that allow our tears to drain can be closed. Why do such a thing? Because it can help keep more tears around the eyes, helping them to stay moist.
While there isn’t one method for alleviating dry eyes for everyone, the methods we’ve listed here have helped others with this problem. Consult with your optometrist here at Eye Site Vision Center!
Dr. Gary Goberville, Optometric Physician
Eye Site Vision Center, 2344 N. University Dr. Coral Springs
954-344-3937 • www.eyesitevision.com