Everyone experiences a bit of dry eye from time to time. Their eyes get itchy, and it is harder to see clearly. You may have a condition called chronic dry eye if you suffer from this on a consistent basis. Many people – young and old – can suffer from this type of irritation on an ongoing basis. Not visiting your eye doctor and getting help from it is not just worrisome from a level of discomfort. Over time, it can make your eyes more prone to infections and could impact your vision quality.
When to See Your Eye Doctor
It is a good idea to visit your eye doctor at least one time a year for a vision exam. If you begin to experience pain, discharge, itchy eyes or redness, come in sooner. Seeing your eye doctor more frequently can be important. It allows us to learn more about why you have dry eye and then we can work to determine the underlying cause and treatment ideal for your situation. Generally, this occurs because your eyes are not producing enough tears or your eyes are producing tears that are not good enough in quality to keep the eye moist. In either case, you need treatment.
What Options Are Available?
Dry eye may warrant one of several treatment options. In most cases, this starts with medicated drops that can help to improve the overall comfort of your eyes. You will also find medications can help to increase tear production. In some patients, the tear duct is blocked or not working properly. Minor surgery can fix this.
To find out what options are available to you, visit your eye doctor. Discuss what your symptoms are and learn what treatment options are best for your specific needs. Full diagnosis and treatment will differ from one patient to the next.
