Hydrate Your Dry Eyes with Total Vision

You may not think about them very often, but your tears are essential for maintaining the health of your eyes. Your tears keep your eyes wet and smooth, help focus light so you can see, and protect your eyes from infections, dirt, and debris.

When your eyes don’t make enough tears or your tears are missing an essential component, you can develop dry eye disease. While painful and irritating symptoms alone are enough to seek relief, untreated dry eye disease can lead to long-term complications.

At Total Vision, our priority is to help you achieve clear, comfortable vision for life. Call us today to book an appointment for dry eye treatment in Rancho Bernardo and find the relief you deserve.

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Causes of Dry Eye Disease

There are many different causes for dry eye disease, but they all have something to do with your tears not able to do their job. Your tears may not work because:

Your tear glands don’t make enough tears to hydrate your eyes.
Your tears evaporate too quickly.
Your tears are missing something and can’t nourish your eyes.

The Tear Film

The tear film is made of 3 distinct layers, each serving their own unique purpose:

The mucus layer is the innermost layer of the tear film. It helps spread the tear over the eye’s surface and keeps it stuck to the surface of the eye. The mucus layer is produced in the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the eyes and inside eyelids.
The watery layer is the middle part of the tear film. It cleans the eye and keeps your eyes moist. The watery layer is produced in the lacrimal glands.

The oily layer is the outermost part of the tear film. It keeps the tear surface smooth and prevents the tear from evaporating too quickly. The oily layer is produced in the meibomian glands.

Causes of Dry Eye Disease

So what causes problems with your tear film and tear production to begin with? We naturally produce fewer tears as we get older, primarily because of hormonal changes. This makes women especially susceptible to dry eye disease, but men can also get it.

Other causes of dry eye disease include:

Systemic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, thyroid disease, and lupus
Blepharitis (swollen or red eyelids)
Smoky, windy, or dry environmental conditions
Digital screen use
Long-term contact lens use
Refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK
Certain Medications

Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease comes with irritating and painful symptoms like:

Stinging and burning eyes
Blurred vision
A scratchy or gritty feeling in the eye
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Red or irritated eyes
Discomfort while wearing contact lenses
Excessive tearing (the body’s natural response)

Treating Dry Eye Disease

Treatment for dry eye disease varies depending on the exact root cause. If an underlying health condition causes dry eyes, managing the condition may provide you relief.

Otherwise, some common treatments for dry eyes include:

Artificial Tears: Mild cases of dry eye disease may only need occasional use of over-the-counter artificial tears.
Medicated Eye Drops: Prescription eye drops can be used to eyelid or cornea reduce inflammation or stimulate tear production.
Eyelid Hygiene: Cleansing wipes and eye masks can help break up blockages in the oil glands, decreasing inflammation, and stimulating oil production.
Punctal Plugs: Tiny plugs placed in your tear ducts can prevent your tears from draining, giving them the chance to hydrate your eyes. These plugs are temporary and can be inserted and removed in-clinic.

If you suffer from the painful symptoms of dry eye disease, don’t wait to find relief. Call us at Total Vision today for an appointment, and let us provide you with the solutions you need.

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