Dry eye is a very common condition that plagues thousands of people each year. Since it’s so common, however, not everyone even considers taking a trip to an eye doctor to get it checked out. There are two reasons why this is a potential mistake. First, dry eye can be a symptom of disease. Second, in most cases dry eye is caused by something very benign and it can be treated.

What is dry eye?
Dry eye basically develops when the eye does not receive proper lubrication. This can be caused by an issue with the tear ducts or by a lack of ability for the body to produce tears. In most cases, the cause is pretty minor and the symptoms can be readily treated by an experienced eye doctor.

What are the symptoms of dry eye?
Dry eye can present with a host of symptoms that range from mildly annoying to downright troublesome. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Excessive tearing
• A sensitivity to light
• A feeling of grittiness in the eyes
• Itching
• Redness

Pain is also a possible symptom, and one that should not be ignored. There is no reason to endure pain from dry eye when treatments are available.

What causes dry eye?
There are a host of potential causes for dry eye. They include aging, side effects from medication, structural problems with the eyes, and even diseases, such as arthritis and lupus.

How is dry eye treated?
Eye doctors have a host of treatment options for dry eye at their disposal. These include artificial tear drops and ointments, natural supplements, minor surgical procedures, and more.

Living with dry eye might seem like the thing to do, but it’s not. This is a very common problem that has a variety of treatment options. If you’re concerned with dry eye, check with your eye doctor for assistance.

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Epi-LASIK, Thin Flap LASIK, AST, PRK CK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.