When dealing with dry eyes, time could be of the essence. Two common causes of dry eyes can be poor tear production and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. If your dry eyes are caused by the latter, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, you will want to get it treated as soon as possible.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Our eyes have glands (Meibomian glands) that line the lid of the eyes, both upper and lower, and secrete a protective oil across our eyes as we blink. This oil helps to moisturize our eyes and keep them healthy. When these glands get clogged, we begin to experience symptoms of dry eye:
- Scratchiness
- Redness or irritation
- Burning or stinging
- Blurred vision (especially when reading)
- Excessive tearing for no apparent reason
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses
If we allow these glands to remain clogged without proper treatment, eventually they will dry up and the glands begin to deteriorate, rendering your dry eye symptoms a permanent situation. At this point, only certain measures can be done to help manage the irritation and annoyance of dry eyes. So if you are experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms, don’t wait to have Dr. Smith evaluate the cause and severity of your dry eye. Call us for an appointment 435-359-2020
Treatment
After your initial exam and evaluation, the doctor may recommend a series of treatments. These treatments could range from the use of specialized eye drops and warm compresses to the expression of the Meibomian glands using the ILux technology. This Ilux technology will warm your Meibomian glands then gently apply pressure, allowing the glands to express the clogged material.
Causes of Dry Eye
There are many contributing factors to experiencing dry eye. One of the major factors, however, is age. Dry eye syndrome can occur at any age, but it becomes increasingly more common later in life, particularly after age 50. With women, it may occur in conjunction with Menopause or with the continued use of makeup (clogging the glands with the makeup). Other contributing factors to dry eye can be the climate to which you are continuously exposed (indoor and outdoor), time spent using a computer (the more use, the more likely to experience dry eye), smoking, medications that you take, and other health conditions – Diabetes, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, to name a few.
Don’t Wait
If you suspect you are experiencing dry eye, please don’t wait to have it checked out. Call us and let Dr. Smith take a look at it. It is a common eye condition and can be treated and properly cared for if caught early enough.
The content found on this blog is for information purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of professional medical advice from your eye care provider. Always seek treatment from a qualified health care provider with all your eye health and medical questions regarding your health.