Effective Dry Eye Solutions in Hattiesburg

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common condition that affects the tears that lubricate and protect the eyes. When you have dry eye, your tears may not be enough or of good enough quality to keep your eyes moist. This can lead to a variety of symptoms.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

DES can present a number of symptoms, including:

Persistent dryness, scratchiness, and a burning sensation in the eyes
A foreign body sensation, or the feeling that something is in the eye
Watery eyes (in some cases)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see an eye doctor. They can diagnose DES and recommend treatment options.

One way to diagnose DES is to measure the amount of tears in your eyes. This can be done with a Schirmer test, which involves placing a thin strip of filter paper at the edge of the eye. If the paper doesn’t get wet enough within a certain amount of time, it may be a sign of DES.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

There are many different causes of DES, including:

Aging: DES is more common in older adults, especially women.
Medications: Many medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and birth control pills, can cause DES as a side effect.
Environment: Dry air, dust, and wind can all contribute to DES.
Medical conditions: DES is associated with a number of systemic diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
Contact lens wear: Long-term contact lens wear can increase the risk of DES.
Eyelid problems: Incomplete closure of the eyelids, eyelid disease, and problems with the tear-producing glands can all cause DES.
Smoking: Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of DES.
Blepharoplasty: Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin from the eyelids. DES is a possible complication of this surgery.

Treatments for Dry Eye

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a chronic condition that cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. There are a variety of treatment options available, depending on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause.

Artificial tears: Artificial tears are lubricating eye drops that can help to relieve dryness, scratchiness, and burning. Over-the-counter artificial tears are available at most pharmacies, but some types of artificial tears require a prescription.
Prescription eye drops: Prescription eye drops can help to increase tear production or reduce inflammation.
Tear inserts: Tear inserts are tiny devices placed inside the lower eyelid. They continuously release lubrication throughout the day.
Contact lens wear: If you wear contact lenses, it is important to choose a contact lens compatible with your dry eye condition. You may also need to use artificial tears or rewetting drops throughout the day.
Environmental modifications: Avoiding dry air, wind, and dust can help reduce DES symptoms. You can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home and office, and you can wear sunglasses when outdoors.
Punctal plugs: Punctal plugs are tiny devices inserted into the tear ducts to block them and keep tears from draining away from the eyes.
Warm compresses: Warm compresses can help to loosen the oil that clogs the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of tears.
Nutritional supplements: Some people find that taking certain nutritional supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, can help reduce DES symptoms.
Medications: If a medication causes DES, your doctor may be able to switch you to a different medication that does not have this side effect.
Treating underlying eyelid disease: If DES is caused by an underlying eyelid disease, such as blepharitis, treating the eyelid disease can also help to improve DES symptoms.
Vision correction surgery: If you are considering LASIK or other types of vision correction surgery, it is important to talk to your doctor about your DES condition. LASIK and other vision correction surgeries can worsen DES symptoms, so it is vital to have your DES under control before undergoing surgery.