Many people suffer from dry eyes, one that doesn’t just go away with one or two squeezes of eye droppers. It’s a common syndrome that affects 16 million adults in America alone, making it a universal irritation that can negatively impact the patient’s quality of life.
On a global scale, you’re looking at a range between 5 per cent to 50 per cent in various populations, making it one of the primary reasons for visits to the eye doctor.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Officially known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), dry eye syndrome is the condition that indicates a lack of lubrication or moisture on the eye’s surface. Some are unable to produce enough tears, while others suffer from tears that evaporate too quickly. Either way, both conditions come with irritation, redness, discharge, and eyes that are easily fatigued.
Symptoms of dry eyes include the following:
- Burning sensation
- Itchiness
- Aching sensations
- Heavy eyes
- Fatigued eyes
- Sore eyes
- Dryness sensation
- Red eyes
- Photophobia
- Blurred vision
Having dry eyes is a chronic condition that not only produces discomfort, but it can compromise one’s vision too. With that in mind, the tips below should clue you in on quick fixes that you can do at home to soothe the pain before taking a visit to your eye doctor:
1. Use OTC Artificial Tears or Eye Droppers
If you have a mild case of dry eyes, one of the most effective and easy ways to relieve the irritating condition is to use lubricating eye drops. You can easily buy trusted brands without a prescription, though you will need to consult with your eye doctor if you have a serious condition.
Nonetheless, keep in mind that there are different types of artificial tears. Some are made with low viscosity, meaning that the lubrication will be thin and watery. These are perfect for providing quick relief without the side-effects of blurry vision, but it is short-lived.
High viscosity eye droppers are recommended for bedtime use as the gel-like lubrication can often come with a burning sensation that lasts for a few seconds to minutes. However, it is highly effective at soothing dry eye symptoms for longer periods.
2. Apply Warm Compress to Your Eyes
A warm compress is a good way to help your eyelids produce more lipids, which can increase tear production overall. This means that applying a warm compress can relieve dry eye symptoms, making it an easy fix that you can do at home to prep your vision for the day.
3. Blinking Regularly and Taking Frequent Computer Breaks
Blinking regularly may sound ridiculously easy, but it’s an action that is often overlooked by many people. People with healthy tear films typically blink about 10 to 15 times in a single minute, but staring at computer screens can cut the average by a whopping half.
With that in mind, even the American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO) recommends people to take frequent breaks and replenish their eye’s lubrication by making the conscious effort to blink regularly.
The Bottom Line
Suffering from dry eyes is more than irritating, it can keep you from your productivity and cause painful vision for the better part of the day. Before going to your eye doctor, you can soothe your condition by following the tips above as a temporary relief.
If you’re looking to ease your dry eye syndrome and other similar conditions, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.