What’s the difference between having dry eyes and having Dry Eye Syndrome? It’s a great question. And as more and more Americans are dealing with chronic dry eye, it’s a question worth answering.
When the body can no longer produce enough tears or the right type of tears needed to keep the eyes moist, it may be the result of Dry Eye Syndrome. Every time you blink, your tear ducts should produce tears that will coat the surface of your eye and protect it from outside contaminants. If the outer layer of the eye dries up, you may experience blurred vision, eye discomfort, headaches and possibly even infections.
The technical term for this irritating eye condition is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), and it is the leading cause of chronic dry eye.
Why So Much Dry Eye?
Dry Eye Syndrome is more common today than ever before. While your dry eye issue could be allergy-related, most experts agree that screen time (computers, smartphones, video gaming, television) is likely to blame for increased dry eye symptoms in the vast majority of cases. These activities can interfere with quality and quantity of blinks, which results in – you guessed it – dry eye.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?
Not all people with Dry Eye Syndrome experience the same symptoms or all of the symptoms, but the most common symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome include:
- Burning or stinging
- Gritty feeling
- Foreign body sensation (like an eyelash or grain of sand is stuck in the eye)
- Eye fatigue
- Painful to wear contacts
- Excessive tearing (oddly enough)
Excessive tearing with dry eye might sound odd. But your eyes make more tears when they are irritated by dry eye. It’s sort of a defense mechanism. The problem is, the tears your eyes make when dealing with Dry Eye Syndrome are lacking the oil needed to keep them from evaporating too quickly. It’s a frustrating cycle!
How is Dry Eye Syndrome Diagnosed and Treated?
At Cargo Eye Care, we will perform diagnostic testing and a complete exam that will help us pinpoint the source of your unique situation. “This is an important diagnostic step because chronic dry eye symptoms are similar to those of allergies and even some eye infections,” said Dr. Jonathan Cargo, founder of Cargo Eye Care.
Beyond warm compresses and prescription eye drops (Restasis and Xiidra), we are able to offer another advanced treatment for our patients living with chronic dry eye: Punctal Plugs. These tiny devices are inserted in the ducts in your lids to slow the drainage of tears away from your eyes, keeping your eyes more moist.
TEARCARE® For The Treatment of Dry Eye
TearCare® is an innovative Dry Eye procedure that targets the blocked meibomian glands in your eyelids that produce oils to keep your tears healthy. When these glands become blocked or have reduced function, your tears may evaporate more quickly. Unblocking these glands with The TearCare® System can help restore their function and stabilize the tear film. This may improve the quality of tears and reduce symptoms like dryness, gritty or scratchy sensations, blurry vision, and watery eyes.
At your appointment, we will determine whether your dry eye symptoms are caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and would benefit from the use of The TearCare® System.
Your Vision is Our Passion
If you think you or someone you love may be dealing with Dry Eye Syndrome, come see us. It would be our honor to serve you. Schedule an appointment today.
