Dry Eye Care From Your Trusted Optometrist in Yakima
Dry eye may sound like a relatively trivial issue — but if you currently suffer from this syndrome, you know just how troubling it can be. Chronically dry eyes are not just uncomfortable; they can also interfere with your vision and eventually even cause serious eye damage. Tracking down the specific causes of your dry eyes, and finding the right solutions for lasting relief, require professional aid from a trusted optometrist in Yakima. Your eye doctor at Yakima Vision Center, Dr. Farmer has the necessary expertise to treat this annoying and potentially harmful condition.
Dry Eye Symptoms and Causes Seen By Your Optometrist at Yakima Vision Center
The tear film that coats the surface of the eye contains three essential layers: a mucous layer, a water layer, nd an oil layer. If your tears don’t contain the right balance of these substances, or if you just aren’t making enough tears, you may experience the telltale discomforts of dry eye. Dry eye symptoms include redness, itchiness, feelings of fatigue, blurred vision and a gritty “foreign body sensation” in the eye. But your dry eye worries aren’t limited to the symptoms. Left untreated, long-term dry eye can make the surface of the eye vulnerable to infections, foreign bodies, injuries and even corneal scarring.
Dry eyes may caused or aggravated by numerous factors, including:
- Age, which naturally causes a decline in overall tear production
- Meibomian gland dysfunction, a problem afflicting the oil-producing glands inside the eyelid
- Systemic health problems such as immune system disorders that cause dryness
- Drying effects from medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, hypertension drugs etc.)
- Moving air from wind or an overhead fan
- Allergens or environmental pollutants
- Contact lens wear
- Spending too much time at the computer without a break (which causes the eyes to “forget” to blink regularly)
Find Relief From Dry Eye in Yakima
Our family eye care center can track down the reason for your dry eye and prescribe the appropriate remedy. Analyzing your tear film volume and composition, for instance, can tell us whether your meibomian glands are malfunctioning or your body simply isn’t producing enough tears. Your Optometrist at Yakima Vision Center will also ask you about your health history, medications and lifestyle before recommending solutions such as:
- Artificial tears or gel-based eye drops
- Changes in your computer usage habits so your eyes can rehydrate themselves
- Changes in your medication regimen
- Medical treatment for underlying systemic problems
- Treatment to address blockages in the meibomian glands
- Special contact lenses that help your eyes retain moisture
- Avoiding fans and protecting the eyes against high winds or other irritants
Call Your Optometrist at Yakima Vision Center for Dry Eye Relief
Now that you understand both the potential hazards of dry eye and the methods available for overcoming it, take the next step of getting the dry eye relief you need at Yakima Vision Center. Call (509) 965-5200 to schedule an evaluation and treatment from your eye doctor at our family eye care center!
Dry Eye Treatment From Our Optometrist in Yakima
Dry eyes are uncomfortable. Individuals who experience dry eye can find relief from an optometrist in Yakima. It’s beneficial for a patient to understand the condition and the treatment prior to scheduling an appointment.
What Are Dry Eye Symptoms?
Dry eyes tend to cause discomfort such as a burning, stinging or a scratchy feeling in the eyes. The eyes may become red. It’s also possible for the person to experience sensitivity to light. The mucus in or around the eyes may become stringy. It’s also possible for the eyes to become watery due to the irritation. Those who have dry eye may complain of a frequent feeling of having something in their eye. It even has the potential to cause blurred vision or eye fatigue. Dry eye may interfere with a person’s ability to wear contact lenses. Moreover, the person might have difficulty driving at night.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Generally, dry eyes are caused by a decrease in tear production or an increase in tear evaporation. The problem may stem from an imbalance in the composition of the tears since tears are comprised of a balanced mixture of mucus, fatty oils, and water. Certain factors contribute to dry eye such aging. People who have medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjorgren’s syndrome, certain thyroid disorders, lupus or scleroderma may have a decrease in tear production. Diabetes is oftentimes a culprit of a decrease in tear production as well and so is a vitamin A deficiency. Some medications will decrease a person’s tear production such as hormone replacement therapy, high blood pressure medications or antidepressants. Damage to the tear glands from either radiation or inflammation will reduce a person’s tear production. If a person’s eyes turn outward or inward, the person might have an increase in tear evaporation. On the hand, the person might have a clogged gland, which is interfering with the composition of his or her tears.
How is Dry Eye Treated at Yakima Vision Center?
An Optometrist at Yakima Vision Center must first determine the cause of the dry eyes in order to treat it effectively. This may require testing or a thorough examination of the eye. The dry eye doctor may need to treat the underlying health condition. In some cases, this may require a referral to an eye surgeon to correct eyelid conditions. The eye doctor may need to refer the patient to a specialist like a rheumatologist for lupus. Medications are effective treatments for some patients. For instance, some patients benefit from medications that reduce the swelling in the eye. The immune-suppressing medication cyclosporine comes in an eye drop and has the ability to reduce inflammation. Eye inserts can work like artificial tears. The eye doctor could also prescribe tear-stimulating drugs or autologous blood serum drops. Other treatments are available as well.
Call Yakima Vision Center Today!
To learn more about dry eye treatment or to schedule an appointment, contact us at Yakima Vision Center at (509) 965-5200. We look forward to meeting with you!