Dry eye is a common condition that affects more than 30% of Canadians at some point in their lifetime. In fact, this condition will affect most individuals at some point to different degrees, and is caused by a number of different things. While dry eye is often undiagnosed, this condition may present itself in several symptoms:
- Contact lens discomfort
- Eye fatigue
- Redness
- Itching or burning
- Feeling like something is in the eye
- Eye discharge
- Blurred vision
- Periods of dryness immediately followed by a tearing session
- Problems with vision that go away with eye drops
Dry eye should be discussed with your doctor, and may be caused by a variety of factors. Consulting with an Optometrist can help identify the factors that exacerbate dry eye, and discover ways to limit them as much as possible. We strive to educate our patients on the bad habits and lifestyle factors that can be changed to limit the effects of dry eye, including:
- Health concerns such as thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or other autoimmune diseases
- Environmental causes like high altitude, fumes, smoke or air conditioning
- Medications like sleeping pills, diuretics, antidepressants, allergy or cold medication, antihistamines, pain medication or motion sickness pills
- Lifestyle factors such as hormonal changes, contact lenses, regular computer use, diet or the natural aging process
With just a few tweaks to a lifestyle or habit, dry eye can be avoided completely, or the symptoms can be limited and controlled for minimal discomfort.
