What to Know About Dry Eye

Dry eye is an issue that can cause eye irritation and limit your ability to wear contacts. Fortunately, Dr. Coates at Dunedin Eye Care can work with you to provide a treatment that will work best for you, even if it means trying multiple approaches before finding adequate relief. 

What Is Dry Eye?

As the name suggests, dry eye is a condition where your eyes are drier than normal. Over time, you may develop it as your eyes may produce less fluid with age. However, in some cases, dry eye may have a specific cause, such as being a side effect of medication. Additionally, after a LASIK procedure, your eyes may become dry.

It's important to note that the problem can also occur if your eyes aren't producing enough tears or if the tears they produce are inadequate and fail to lubricate the eyes properly. Dry eye can be associated with thyroid eye disease.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of dry eye include dryness, itchiness, scratchiness, or pain in the eyes. You may also experience a sensation as if something gritty is in your eye. In more severe cases, dry eye can cause blurry vision. You might notice that your eyes appear red. Despite being called "dry eye," you might have more tears than the average person, as your eyes try to compensate. However, these tears may be of poor quality and fail to properly hydrate your eyes.

Diagnosing Dry Eye

If you're uncertain whether you have dry eye or are concerned about it, our optometrist can diagnose the problem. This may involve asking you questions and reviewing your medical/family history. In many cases, this information is sufficient for us to diagnose dry eye. In some cases, our practitioner may also perform a tear assessment to evaluate their composition.

Treating the Condition

If you experience symptoms such as itchy eyes, blurry vision, or redness, we can provide you with relief. Depending on the underlying cause, we may refer you to a specialist. If the condition is not treatable, we will provide you with management strategies to alleviate your symptoms, such as using eye drops to hydrate your eyes or prescribing medication to stimulate tear production.

Get Quality Eye Care in Dunedin, FL

If you wear contacts or are interested in wearing them, we can help you find ones that are more comfortable for your condition. Contact our eye doctor at Dunedin Eye Care today by calling (727) 733-0443 to schedule an appointment for your itchy eyes.