What to Know About Dry Eye

Dry eyes can be an uncomfortable issue for those who suffer from it. Unfortunately, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), it affects an estimated 20 million people in the U.S., making it a common problem. Fortunately, an optometrist or ophthalmologist at Benefield Eye Care, serving Gulfport and the nearby region, can assist. 

General Information

Dry eye is pretty self-explanatory. With this issue, your eyes are dry. It can make it uncomfortable to complete daily tasks, such as when you have to perform up-close work on the computer at work. The pain and discomfort can interfere with your enjoyment. Additionally, dry eyes can make it uncomfortable to wear contacts or drive at night.

Symptoms

Your eyes may just feel dry. But in addition to that, they may sting, burn, or hurt. You may notice you have stringy mucus in one or both eyes, whichever is affected. You might also have a sensitivity to light or feel like you have something in your eye. Eye fatigue and blurred vision are also common issues, as are difficulty driving at night and eye fatigue.

Causes

Of all the causes of dry eye, the most common is age. The lubrication in your eyes begins to lessen as you age. Hormone changes in both men and women play a role in a decrease in tear production.

The main culprits of dry eyes tend to be one of the following:

• Inadequate tear production
• Tears with a poor composition
• Tears that evaporate too rapidly

Other contributing factors could include a medication you take or a condition you have.

Treatment

You shouldn't need to have any testing done by either an ophthalmologist or optometrist at our practice to diagnose the condition. An eye doctor from our practice can determine if you have it by your symptoms alone. Sometimes, though, we'll ask you to take a sample of your tears to assess their consistency and composition.

The reason why you have dry eyes will affect the treatment approach we use. Examples of possible treatments are as follows:

• Hydrating eye drops
• Medication to stimulate tears
• Drugs to reduce inflammation
• Low Level Light Therapy
• IPL dry eye treatment
• LipiFlow
• Heat Mask 
• Tear Support Vitamins

If you'd like to wear contacts but find standard contacts uncomfortable and impossible to wear, an eye doctor can determine a type of contact that won't irritate your eyes as much because it'll have a higher water concentration.

Contact Benefield Eye Care in Gulfport, MS

Benefield Eye Care, serving Gulfport and the general vicinity, has two types of eye care professionals, including an ophthalmologist and an optometrist. We offer a number of treatments to reduce your pain and discomfort from dry eyes and encourage you to contact us. Book an appointment with our practice by calling 228-328-0972.