Are your eyes dry or sensitive to light? Do you dread wearing contact lenses or feel like you have sand in your eyes?
You may have dry eye. Beyond the discomfort and pain of dry eye, it can also lower your quality of life.
Dry eye can hold you back from the activities you love, like watching TV or reading. It can also get in the way of driving safely, spending quality time with friends and family, or even your job.
Luckily, you don’t have to suffer another day with dry eyes. Getting treatment can bring you long-lasting relief. Keep reading to learn more about dry eyes and why you should seek treatment!
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or make poor-quality tears that evaporate quickly. Dry eye results from various factors that disrupt the normal function of the tear film, which coats the surface of the eye.
Your tear film consists of three layers: oil, water, and mucus.
Oily Layer
The oily or lipid layer creates the outermost coating of your tear film. There are many tiny glands called Meibomian glands that line your eyelids and release the oil or lipid layer into your tears.
The oil layer seals your tear film, preventing the fast evaporation of tears.
Watery Layer
The watery layer of the tear film is found in the middle and is the largest layer. It’s made by the lacrimal glands.
This layer is responsible for washing away any foreign particles, lubricating your eyes, and warding off infections. Additionally, the watery layer contains nutrients that nourish the cornea.
Mucus Layer
The innermost or mucus layer is made in the conjunctiva. Its job is to help tears stick to the surface of your eyes.
Moreover, the mucus layer allows the tear film to spread evenly over the surface of your eyes, keepin
g them lubricated. All three layers keep the surface of your eyes smooth, lubricated, and clear.
A problem with any of these layers can result in dry eyes.
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?
You may experience the following symptoms when you have dry eyes:
- Redness
- Eye fatigue
- Watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Gritty or sandy feeling
- Blurred or cloudy vision
- Burning or stinging eyes
- Mucus around or in your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
What Are the Benefits of Dry Eye Treatment?
Here are the reasons why dry eye treatment is worth it.
Better Quality Vision
One common sign of dry eyes is blurred vision. An imbalanced tear film reduces the a
bility of your cornea to focus light properly on the lens, leading to blurred vision.
When everything is blurry, it becomes hard to define any object. As a result, you may find it difficult to read, work on your computer, drive, and perform many other activities.
The good news is that dry eyes don’t have to get in your way. With dry eye treatment, you can ensure that you’re producing adequate tears that remain in your eyes.
That will get rid of the blurriness and restore clear vision.
Overcome Light Sensitivity
Do your eyes hurt whenever you’re out in the sun? Does the light in your home make you wince?
You may be sensitive to light due to dry eyes. Dry eyes affect the cornea, the transparent outermost part of your eyes.
Light first passes through your cornea, and if it’s not well lubricated, exposure to light can result in mild to extreme light sensitivity. Sensitivity to light can make your eyes hurt whenever you’re exposed to sunlight and artificial light, particularly if it’s bright.
Additionally, it may trigger headaches. Although light sensitivity is often felt in bright environments, some people might experience discomfort even with any level of light.
When light sensitivity is a symptom of dry eyes, treatment goes to the root of the problem and may involve a range of therapies, including the MiBoFlo Thermoflo®. The treatment aims to restore a healthier tear film, which reduces your light sensitivity and allows you to see better.
Soothe Inflammation
Inflammation from dry eye can result in a vicious cycle. When the surface of your eye is dry, microscopic cracks tend to form.
Inevitably, inflammation develops to attempt to heal these cracks.
But inflammation compromises the quality of your tears, which prevents them from adequately moisturizing your eyes.
Unfortunately, this increases dryness and inflammation. The painful cycle may worsen until treated.
Dry eye treatment can bring relief. It will help ease the stinging or burning sensation linked to dry eyes and inflammation.
Healthier Eyes
Tears don’t only flow freely when you’re sad, angry, happy, or in pain. Tears can also start running down your cheeks if you have dry eyes.
Despite the name, dry eyes make your eyes extremely watery. Dry eyes can become uncomfortable and irritating.
As your eyes’ natural response, they can signal the lacrimal gland to begin secreting more tears to maintain your eye comfort and get rid of the irritation. However, the excess tears can overwhelm your eyes’ natural drainage or tear ducts, causing the tears to overflow.
The extra production of tears is known as reflex tearing. Reflex tears are of poor quality and don’t adequately coat and protect the surface of your eyes.
What’s more, too many tears can affect your vision, making it hard for you to see. Luckily, dry eye treatment can help combat watery eyes and dry eyes and restore healthy, clear vision.
Prevent Corneal Damage
The cornea is like a window that lets light pass through to reach the retina. If dry eye worsens, your tear film might not be able to flush out foreign particles like dirt and dust that may land on your cornea.
These particles can scratch your cornea, causing scarring and damage that could cause long-term vision problems. Seeking treatment early can prevent serious complications of dry eye like corneal damage and protect your sight.
Best-In-Class Dry Eye Treatment
Whether you have mild or severe dry eye, the experienced doctors at Jacksonville Eye Center believe you deserve to see clearly without irritation or pain. Getting prompt treatment for your dry eye can alleviate your symptoms and protect your sight from possible complications of dry eye.
Are you experiencing dry eye symptoms? Schedule an appointment at Jacksonville Eye Center in Jacksonville, FL, today to get on the path to healthy, comfortable vision.