If you have dry eye, you know how uncomfortable it can be. Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or when your tears don’t work correctly. This can cause discomfort, redness, and irritation. More severe cases can be painful and lead to complications.
If you’re suffering from dry eye, you may be wondering if there’s a permanent cure. The answer depends on what’s causing your dry eye. While dry eye can sometimes be temporary, there are many cases where it’s chronic and needs ongoing treatment and management. Let’s take a look at the different causes of dry eye and when you should seek professional care.
Temporary dry eye
Temporary dry eye is usually caused by external factors such as environmental conditions, spending too much time staring at screens, or wearing contact lenses for too long. In these cases, the dryness tends to go away on its own and can be relieved by taking breaks from screens, using artificial tears, or adding a humidifier in dry environments.
Chronic dry eye
Many people experience chronic dry eye, which means the condition never goes away completely. Chronic dry eye might be caused by aging, hormonal changes, or an underlying health condition such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. In chronic cases, your tear glands might not produce enough tears, or the tears may evaporate too quickly. This can cause constant dryness, irritation, and discomfort. While there is no cure for chronic dry eye, it can be managed with the right treatment.
Treatment for dry eye
If your eyes are constantly dry and itchy and over-the-counter eye drops don’t help, it’s time to see an eye doctor. At Vision Center of Lake Norman, our eye doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating dry eye. During an eye exam, we can find out what’s causing your dry eye and recommend the best treatment option for your needs.
One of the dry eye treatments we offer is OptiLight intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. This in-office treatment uses gentle pulses of light to clear blockages in the meibomian glands, which are tiny glands in your eyelids that produce a crucial part of your tears. Blocked meibomian glands, also known as meibomian gland dysfunction, are the most common cause of dry eye. IPL therapy helps soften and release clogged oils in these glands to relieve dry eye symptoms.
If you’re dealing with dry eye symptoms, it is important not to ignore them. Dry eye can significantly impact your daily life, causing discomfort and blurred vision and even affecting your ability to perform certain tasks. Our eye doctors in Newton or Mooresville can assess your symptoms and suggest personalized solutions to help relieve your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. So don’t let dry eye hold you back—take the first step towards better eye health and schedule an eye exam with us today!
