WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF I DON’T TREAT MY DRY EYES?

How do I know if I have Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough natural tears to moisturize and lubricate the surface of your eye. Tears are essential for maintaining healthy eyes and to keep your vision clear. As we get older, it’s common for our eyes to stop producing the tears that we need.

A lot of people mistake their eye itchiness, tearing, light sensitivity, and tired eyes for seasonal allergies or “eye strain,” but all of these symptoms are also signs of dry eye syndrome. If you experience these symptoms regularly, it’s a good idea to get checked out by a doctor, who can officially diagnose your symptoms.

In the meantime, you can treat your itchy dry eyes on your own by using moisturizing tears, like Relieve Eye Drops.

What Causes Dry Eye?

A lot of different things could be causing your dry, itchy eyes. Some of the most common causes include:

• Sensitivity to the Environment: If you live in a dry or windy climate, you are more at risk for dry eyes. Additionally, people who live in places with a lot of air pollution are also at a higher risk.
• Not Blinking Enough: It’s a fact: when we look at a screen, we don’t blink as much! Blinking is what helps your eyes to distribute tears evenly, and not blinking enough can lead to chronic dry eyes. If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer or a TV, you could be at a greater risk for developing dry eye syndrome.
• Wearing contacts: While it’s nice not to worry about wearing glasses, using contact lenses could be the culprit in causing your dry eyes. In fact, over 2 million people in the US a year decide to stop wearing contacts due to eye dryness.
• Demodex Mites: These mites are microscopic little bugs that burrow into your eyelash follicles. While having a few Demodex Mites around your eyes won’t cause you any problems, an out-of-control mite problem can result in dry, tired, crusty eyes.

So, what could happen if I don’t treat my dry eyes?

The long-term effects of untreated dry eye can be serious. If your eyes are frequently unable to produce enough tears, they can feel irritated and itchy. Over time, the lack of tear film can result in scratches to the surface of your eye or the cornea.

A damaged cornea can lead to a host of other serious problems, as the cornea is the main protection that your eyes have to keep out dust, germs, and other harmful gunk. That means that if you damage your cornea, you could experience frequent eye infections.

On top of that, a scratched-up cornea can also mean permanent scarring, which can result in permanent vision loss and require surgery.

In short? Treating your dry eyes now is much easier than dealing with the consequences later.

What can I do to take care of my dry eyes?

Luckily, there are a lot of over-the-counter options out there to treat your dry eyes before they become a serious health issue. However, it’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor to see which treatments are right for you.

One of the most common ways to treat the symptoms of your dry eyes is by using artificial tears. Keep in mind it’s important to stay away from eye drops that promise redness relief, as these can be much more irritating to your eyes.

A second step that you can take is to incorporate daily lid hygiene into your morning routine. Using an antimicrobial eyelid wipe like Blephadex will help you go a long way in preventing and treating your dry eye symptoms.