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Dry Eye

Dry Eye Causes and Treatment

The older you become, the more vulnerable you are to eye conditions like dry eye.  Dry eye is a condition where your eyes stop producing sufficient tears to keep them lubricated and moist. Tears aid in visual clarity and protect your eyes from dust and debris. Lack of tears can lead to eye redness, dryness, and irritation. At Museum District Eye Center in Houston, we can diagnose if you have dry eye and recommend steps for treatment. Here’s what you should know about dry eye syndrome.

Dry Eye Causes and Treatment

Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eye can occur when your eyes stop producing tears, the tears produced are of low quality, or your tears evaporate so quickly they don’t properly lubricate your eyes.

Tears are composed of a balanced mixture of oil, water, and mucus. If any part of this mixture is lacking, your eyes can become dry and irritated.

There are various reasons for reduced production of tears. Tear production often slows down as you age. Other factors that may affect tear production include eye allergies, overexposure to the elements, and UV rays of the sun, certain autoimmune diseases, certain medications, long-term use of contacts, and reduced blinking due to extensive computer use.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Although symptoms may vary from one person to the next, in general, you may experience redness, burning, dryness, grittiness, excess tearing, eye fatigue, and mucus in or around your eyes. You may have blurred or double vision that makes it hard to read, watch TV, or work on your computer.

Dry eye syndrome can make you more susceptible to eye infections, inflammation, and corneal abrasions. Despite these symptoms, dry eye rarely leads to permanent loss of vision.

Dry Eye Treatment

A checkup by your Houston ophthalmologist can determine if you have dry eye syndrome. Our ophthalmologist will measure the quantity and quality of your tears to confirm that you have this condition. Depending on the severity of your dry eye, we’ll recommend treatment. Through regular optometry care, you can keep dry eye symptoms to a minimum. 

Mild cases of dry eye are usually corrected with artificial tears. Your Houston ophthalmologist may also place special plugs at the corner of each eye to block tears from escaping, so they can lubricate your eyes. For more advanced cases of dry eye, we may recommend prescription eye drops, topical medications, or surgery to manage your symptoms.

See Your Houston Optometry Specialist for Dry Eye Treatment

To schedule an evaluation at Museum District Eye Center in Houston for dry eye diagnosis and treatment, call 713-333-0151 today. We're here to meet all your eye care needs.

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