That gritty, stinging feeling in your eyes can turn a great day into a frustrating one. You might find yourself blinking constantly, trying to clear away a blurriness that seems to come and go. At Lowy & Sewell Eye Care, our team knows that this discomfort can make it hard to focus on your computer screen, drive at night, or simply enjoy your favourite activities.
This condition, known as dry eye, happens when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears or when your tears are not of the right quality. Our eye care team wants you to know that professional dry eye treatments can help you manage the symptoms and bring you comfort.
What Is Dry Eye and How Does It Feel?
A Simple Definition of Dry Eye
Your eyes need a consistent layer of tears to stay healthy and comfortable. Dry eye disease happens when the tear film is disrupted or when your tears evaporate too quickly. It’s a common condition that can range from mildly annoying to completely distracting and may require professional care.
Common Symptoms You Might Notice
The feeling of dry eye is different for everyone, but some signs are very common. You may notice your eyes feel tired or strained more easily than normal, especially after reading or using a computer. You might experience 1 or more of the following symptoms:
- A stinging, burning, or gritty feeling, as if something is in your eye.
- Redness, light sensitivity, and discomfort.
- Moments of blurry vision or watery eyes.
Common Factors Contributing to Dry Eye
Your Environment and Lifestyle
Your daily habits and surroundings can play a significant part in eye comfort. You might notice your symptoms get worse after spending hours in front of a screen. This happens because we tend to blink less when focusing on something. Your environment (whether it’s a dry climate or a room with air conditioning) can also impact your tear film.
Your Age and Overall Health
Changes within your body can also contribute to dry eye. As you get older, tear production naturally decreases, which is why many people over 50 notice more symptoms. Your overall health and any medications you take can also impact your eyes’ ability to stay lubricated, making adult and senior eye exams important for monitoring these changes.
Is It Dry Eye or Something Else?
Sometimes, what feels like dry eye could be related to another condition. It’s helpful to know the signs that point to something different, as the right diagnosis leads to the right treatment. An optometrist can perform specific tests during an eye exam to help figure out what might be going on.
Other eye conditions that can sometimes be mistaken for dry eye include:
- Allergies: Itchiness is often the most prominent symptom of eye allergies, but dry eye can also make your eyes feel scratchy.
- Blepharitis: This condition involves inflammation that can lead to swollen or crusty eyelids.
- Eye infections: Infections like pink eye (conjunctivitis) often cause discharge and significant discomfort, but the discomfort can sometimes be confused with dry eye.
Professional In-Office Treatments for Relief
When symptoms don’t improve, specific in-office treatments can provide relief by helping target underlying factors contributing to dry eye. These procedures are designed to help improve tear quality and, in some cases, tear stability. Our eye care professionals can determine if 1 of these options is suitable for you:
- Intense pulsed light (IPL): This therapy, known as OptiLight by Lumenis, uses gentle pulses of light to support the glands responsible for tear quality.
- Radiofrequency (RF): This treatment uses heat energy to help improve function in the glands lining your eyelids.
- LipiFlow: This system applies warmth and gentle pressure to clear blocked oil glands lining the eyelids.
When You Should See Your Optometrist in Vaughan
Signs It’s Time for an Appointment
If eye discomfort is getting in the way of your life, it may be time to schedule an eye exam. We want you to know that you don’t have to just put up with persistent irritation. If you experience any of the following, we recommend coming to see us:
- Your symptoms disrupt your ability to work or perform daily tasks.
- Your vision is consistently blurry.
- You are experiencing any new or worsening eye pain.
Get a Clear Diagnosis and Care Plan
A comprehensive eye exam helps our eye doctors look closely at your eye health and identify what could be contributing to your discomfort. Our team can perform tests to measure your tear volume and quality, and from there, they can develop a personalized plan to help you find relief.
Schedule Your Dry Eye Consultation Today
If you are struggling with gritty, uncomfortable eyes, our team at Lowy & Sewell Eye Care can help. Schedule a consultation to receive a clear diagnosis and a personalized care plan tailored to your needs.
