Dry eye is a common condition that can lead to inflammation and damage to your eyes if it is not treated. What is dry eye? What treatment options are available? How is dry eye diagnosed? These are just some of the common questions that people have about dry eye. Read on to find the answers to these questions and more from the eye care professionals at Today’s Vision Barker Cypress.
What is dry eye?
Dry eye is a condition where your eyes do not make enough tears to coat your eyes and keep them properly lubricated. Symptoms of dry eye include dryness, itchiness, and eyes that have a burning, red and irritated feeling to them.
How is dry eye diagnosed?
Dry eye is easy to diagnose. If you have dry, irritated, burning eyes, your eye doctor will conduct a series of tests to determine if your eyes are producing enough tears. These tests include the slit lamp test, Schirmer's test, and tear breakup time.
What treatment options are available?
Dry eye treatment includes a few options depending on the level of severity. The first option for treatment includes artificial eye drops. These are a temporary fix and can help the symptoms of dry eye, or treat mild cases. For more severe cases of dry eye, other options might be needed, such as punctal plugs, minor gland salivary auto transplant, and amniotic membranes.
Can dry eye go away on its own?
Mild forms of dry eye can go away on their own with the right conditions. The change of the seasons can make the symptoms go away, especially if you suffer from seasonal allergies. Using a humidifier can help by adding more humidity to the air if you live in a dry area. If you have more severe or chronic dry eye, it is better to visit our optometrist to get to the underlying cause of your dry eye.
What happens if dry eye is left untreated?
In mild cases or if you live in a place with good eye care, nothing happens if your dry eye is left untreated. In more undeveloped areas with few resources and poor eye care, it can cause other eye conditions which can lead to more serious issues and possible blindness.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Eye Doctor in Cypress, TX
If you or someone you know suffers from dry eye, call or visit us at Today's Vision Barker Cypress, located in Cypress, TX.
