Dry Eye Syndrome
Filed Under Naturopathy |
Dry eyes are very common. The condition is called, dry eye syndrome, because there can be more than one reason for its cause.
So what exactly is dry eye syndrome? Our eyes have a tear film layer that functions to produce natural tears which lubricate and rid ours eyes of irritants. The cause for dry eye syndrome can be due to a problem with the tear film layer or because the tears being produced don’t contain the proper mix of moisturizing elements to maintain lubrication.
There are many products on the market that treat eye conditions. Because you can purchase most of them over-the-counter (without a prescription), make sure the product you’re buying is specifically formulated to help dry eye syndrome. Certain medications may have side effects that can cause dry eye syndrome. Examples of these medications include: birth control pills, allergy medication, blood pressure remedies, arthritic preparations, and antidepressants drugs.
Dry eye can also occur from environmental irritants such as: air-conditioning, excessive de-humidification of the air, dry heating systems, and wearing your contact lenses for a long period of time. The issue of dry eye also occurs as the normal part of aging. Lastly, dry eye syndrome has been associated with a malfunctioning eye-lid or a defect in the eyes involuntary blinking reflex action.
If left untreated, dry eye syndrome can worsen uncomfortable symptoms such as: burning, itchiness, a sense that something is in the eye, and blurred vision; to more serious complications such as: cornea scaring, impaired vision, and serious damage to surrounding eye tissue. There are many eye drop preparations on the market. Therefore, it is important to match the correct preparation with the correct set of eye symptoms. Below is a brief over-view of the types of eye drops available and their benefits:
Reduce redness: Used for tired and irritated eyes.
Artificial tears: Used for dry and scratchy eyes (occasional dry eye).
Allergy eye: Used during allergy season for itchy and watery eyes.
Eye wash: Used to rinse the eye to remove irritants such as an eyelash.
Dry eye: Used to stimulate the production of tears.
There are also prescription eye drops that are used to treat eye infections such as conjunctivitis. Dry eye syndrome can be confused with a variety of other eye abnormalities, therefore it’s best to have any sudden changes in the condition of your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist. I highly recommend an annual eye examination as preventive eye examinations can help screen for minor eye abnormalities, retinal changes, glaucoma, cataracts, tumors, etc.
When you’re armed with the proper information you can make better (and more informed) decisions about your health and the health of those you love.
Dr. Linda Mundorff
Comments
2 Comments so far
Is there any known therapy to help a 5 month old whose eyes won’t close all the way and who does not blink. She has had one surgery to tighten the lids but that was ineffective. Now the advice is to sew the eyes shut which is devastating due to the fact that the baby is almost deaf.
Bonnie,
First let me give you a cyber-hug,I am so sorry to hear about your baby’s struggle.I cannot give you any advice on treatments as your child’s condition must be followed by a specialist. However I can offer you some questions to ponder and point you in the right direction.
You mention that the baby is hearing impaired, is the eye issue related to this impairment? Have the doctors given you a diagnosis? If so, what is it?
It is important to get a proper diagnosis before you seek treatment. Is the problem a mechanical one? Neurological? Muscular? Have you seen a pediatric ophthalogist? Why did the surgery fail? Why do they want to sew her eyelids shut? Is this a temporary measure or permanent? I don’t know if you have health insurance or the financial resources to persue additional opinions, but I would strongly suggest you do just that, and seek out additional opinions.
Let me know if you have any other questions and do your research - you are your child’s advocate so don’t be afraid to advocate for her, ask the questions and keep asking until you get the answers that make sense to you.
In health and wellness,
Dr. Linda Mundorff