Sometimes a person is unable to produce enough tears or their tears do not possess the right qualities to keep eyes healthy and comfortable. This can cause a consistent lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye, known as dry eyes.
Normally, the eye constantly lubricates itself with tears by producing them at a slow and steady rate, keeping itself moist and comfortable. Usually these tears consist of three layers, an oily, a watery, and a mucus layer. Each layer has a specific role in lubricating your eyes. The oily layer is outermost. It’s main purpose is to slow evaporation of the tear. The watery layer is in the middle. This makes up the majority of what a person normally thinks of as tears. This layer cleans the eye and helps to wash away small foreign objects and particles. The inner layer consists of mucus which allows the watery layer to stick to the eye and spread evenly over the eye. In a person with dry eyes, hormonal changes, side effects from medication or some other factor causes a deficiency of one or more of the tear layers.
Common dry eye symptoms can range from light stinging, burning in the eyes or scratchiness to excessive irritation. It can also cause intermittent blurred vision. Paradoxically dry eye syndrome begins when the eyes produce excessive tearing due to the consistent irritation. However, dryness will remain an irritating condition unless you get treated by an eye doctor.
Fort Lauderdale Eye Associates offers the latest, most innovative solutions for dry eyes, such as the Toyos Optimum Dry Eye Treatment. This treatment uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) that acts as a powerful warm compress to liquefy the secretions plugged up in the oil-secreting meibomian glands. This allows for thickened oils to be released easily. Often artificial tears are prescribed for a quick solution because they can replenish parts of the tear layer that your eyes are not producing on their own. However, Intense Pulsed Light is a widely acknowledged treatment that gets at the root cause of dry eyes to permit a more long lasting solution.
Studies have also shown that nutrition may have a part in helping to relieve some symptoms of dry eyes. Your eye doctor may recommend nutritional supplements such as omega-3. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are cold-water fish, cod, herring and salmon, as well as flaxseed oil. Mild dehydration can make symptoms worse too, so be sure to drink plenty of water.
For help you with your dry eyes, be sure to make an appointment at Fort Lauderdale Eye Associates.
Appointments can be scheduled on Tuesday and Friday as early as 8:30 am upon request.
For emergencies, call 911 or our main number for the answering service to reach the doctor on call.