Dry eyes not only bring discomfort and halt your productivity but, if left untreated, can cause serious corneal damage. The first step to dry eye management is scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with your optometrist to get to the bottom of your symptoms.
Let’s explore what dry eye is, the symptoms, and 4 reasons why you should treat dry eye syndrome as early as possible.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome is a vision condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears to stay lubricated, or something has gone wrong with the tear production process. Dry eye syndrome can damage your cornea if left untreated, and seeking treatment as soon as possible is essential.
Your tears are composed of 3 layers:
- The oily outer layer
- The watery middle layer
- The inner mucus layer
Dry eye syndrome can occur if the glands that produce these elements of your tears do not produce them properly or become inflamed.
Some common signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome can include:
- Eye redness
- A stinging, burning, or scratchy feeling in your eyes
- Blurred vision or eye fatigue
- Watery eyes
Dry eye syndrome can affect your eyes when your eyes aren’t receiving enough moisture. Some causes that can lead to a decrease in moisture in your eyes include:
- Exposure to the wind or dry air
- Aging
- Long-term contact lens wear
- Starting at a computer screen for an extended amount of time
- Not blinking enough
Any instability in the tear production process can lead to the development of dry eye syndrome.
4 Reasons Why You Need Early Dry Eye Treatment
Once your optometrist has determined the underlying cause of your dry eyes through a comprehensive eye examination, treatment is the next step. Early treatment is essential to preserve your visual health—let’s explore 4 reasons why early treatment is important.
#1 Preventing Corneal Damage
Early treatment can help prevent more severe damage from occurring to the cornea. Even if some patients’ dry eye syndrome isn’t as severe, it can develop and become more dangerous to your long-term visual health if not addressed.
#2 Preserve Your Long-Term Vision
Dry eye syndrome can become more difficult to manage if left untreated for a long time. Your eyes are sensitive to damage and trauma, so any sort of condition that interferes with your vision or causes discomfort should be addressed as soon as possible.
If you feel the effects of dry eye syndrome developing, schedule an appointment with your optometrist and get the treatment you deserve.
#3 More Treatment Options
Early treatment can allow you to explore more options that may deliver better results. Your optometrist will go over nutritional supplements that you can introduce to your diet and at-home treatment methods to help manage dry eye syndrome symptoms.
#4 Get Your Comfort Back
It’s no secret that dry eye syndrome can bring discomfort and derail your day. You lead a busy life, and your comfort is essential. Early treatment can mean early results to get you back to your busy daily life and find the relief you deserve.
Getting the Relief You Deserve
Dry eye treatment is all about helping you get the relief you deserve. Early treatment can help prevent more severe vision issues from developing and do wonders to preserve your long-term vision.
Book an appointment with your optometrist for a comprehensive eye examination and address your dry eyes today.
