Have you ever suffered from sore, watery, uncomfortable, red eyes?
You could be suffering from a condition called Dry Eyes. You’re not alone, the condition affects nearly five million Britons over the age of 45 years.
As we age, we produce less tears which causes Dry Eye Syndrome. This leads to your eyes drying out and becoming itchy and sore. Sometime this can affect our vision and we’re left tired and confused.
What Symptoms Can I Get With Dry Eyes?
With dry eyes you could experience and of these symptoms:
- A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Eye redness
- A sensation of having something in your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Difficulty with nighttime driving
- Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dry eyes
- Blurred vision or eye fatigue
How Dry Eyes Occurs?
A number of factors can increase your risk of dry eyes:
Digital devices – when we work at a computer or use or phone we tend to blink less frequently which can cause dry eyes.
Ageing – although dry eye syndrome can occur at any age, but it becomes increasingly more common later in life, especially after age 50.
Indoor environment – air conditioning, ceiling fans and forced air heating systems all can decrease indoor humidity, causing dry eye symptoms.
Outdoor environment – Arid climates and dry or windy conditions increase the risk of dry eyes.
Flying – The air in the cabins of airplanes is extremely dry and can lead to dry eyes
Health conditions – Certain diseases like diabetes, thyroid-associated diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjorgen syndrome contribute to dry eye problems.
Medications – Many prescription and non-prescription medicines, including antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medications and birth control pills increase the risk of dry eye symptoms.
Eyelid problems – when we blink or sleep some of us don’t close our eyelids fully which can cause dry eyes.
How Dry Eyes Can Be Treated
You can book an appointment in one of our dry eye clinics and we will run through some tests. We will prescribe a course of treatment which could be as simple as applying specialist drops to more advanced treatment like increasing the tear flow in your eyes through special plugs.
We will discuss all the treatment options available and map out a treatment path. We will also monitor you frequently to ensure the treatment plans are working or if any adjustments are needed.
How can I book an appointment?
You can call any of our branches. you will find a list here 👉 www.realeyesuk.com/branches or book online at www.realeyesuk.com/bookings
