Dry eyes are a common issue. It affects millions, causing itching, redness, and blurry vision. This condition occurs when your tears evaporate too quickly or are not produced enough. This fails to keep your cornea moist. Tears protect and lubricate the eyes. Without them, the eyes can get irritated. A common eye dryness treatment is artificial eye drops. They restore moisture and ease discomfort.

Are Dry eyes dangerous? 

Before that, Do you know what tears are? Do tears are more than just water for your eyes. They keep the eyes lubricated and moisturized, ensuring comfort. Tears also act as a safeguard, protecting the eyes from infections by washing away debris. When this protective layer evaporates or isn’t enough, your eyes can become irritated, leading to symptoms like itching, redness, pain, and blurry vision.

Now, coming back to the question: Are dry eyes dangerous? Yes, if left untreated, it can become dangerous. 

Without enough moisture, the cornea lacks protection, making it more susceptible to infections. This can lead to more severe problems, such as corneal damage, ulcers, scarring, or thinning, which can permanently affect vision. The tear film also stabilizes vision. When dry, it causes blurry vision and light sensitivity, making it harder to tolerate bright light.

The good news is that dryness in the eyes can be treated and managed effectively with proper care. Let’s explore the causes behind it.

Dry Eyes Causes 

Eyes can become dry occasionally, usually when something like dust gets in them. However, this is temporary. But, if the feeling of dryness happens every day along with signs like redness and irritation, it could be a sign of dry eyes. 

Dryness in the eyes can result from too much tear flow or none at all. They can also result from tears evaporating too quickly. Other reasons for dryness in the eyes include:

• How long do you spend on screens?

• Allergies or smoking.

• Environmental factors, like dry air or wind.

• Side effects of medications such as those for menopause, depression, or oral contraceptives.

• Medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases or eye and neurological issues. 

• Some eye surgeries, like LASIK, cataract surgery, and corneal surgery, can raise your risk of dry eyes.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Here are some eye dryness symptoms to help you know if you have eye dryness and if you need to see a doctor right away.

• Irritation and Redness 
• Burning Sensation 
• Watery Eyes 
• Blurred Vision 
• Light Sensitivity 
• Difficulty Wearing Contact Lenses 
• Eye Fatigue 

When to seek medical help for dry eyes? 

Run to any eye hospital near you as soon as possible if; 

• If your eye dryness symptoms, like itching or blurry vision, last more than a few days despite using over-the-counter drops.

• If the dry eyes cause irritation and pain in your eyes, it becomes unbearable. 

• If your vision becomes blurry or fluctuates often, it may interfere with daily activities such as reading or driving.

• If you become more sensitive to light, it may be hard to be in bright places.

• If your eyes become very red, swollen, or infected, especially with discharge.

• If contact lenses become painful or uncomfortable, they won’t stay in due to dryness. 

Dry Eyes Treatment 

“How can to cure dry eyes permanently?” you may ask. Or whether there is a remedy for dryness in the eyes. Well, many people have found long-lasting relief from eye dryness, while others are still using treatments. To get permanent relief, it’s important to combine treatment with some lifestyle changes.

Some dry eyes treatment you can get at ABO eye hospital in Nagpur are; 

Artificial Tears and Eye Drops

There are several eye drops and ointments you can choose from to help with dry eyes. These drops lubricate and soothe your eyes, temporarily relieving symptoms. Some of the options include eye drops like cyclosporine, lifitegrast, and autologous serum.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is used to treat dryness in eyes caused by blocked oil glands. This treatment uses light. It reduces inflammation and improves your tear oil. IPL therapy can help. It can stimulate the glands to produce more oil. This oil is important for healthy tears. It’s a safe and non-invasive procedure done by a specialist. This treatment is often used when other methods haven’t worked for severe dryness in the eyes.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are tiny devices inserted into the tear ducts in your eyelids. These plugs help keep tears in your eyes for longer periods, preventing them from draining too quickly. This treatment is especially useful for people whose tears evaporate too fast. The plugs are small and can be placed easily in your eye’s tear ducts by a doctor. They are a long-term solution for people with chronic eye dryness. 

Meibomian Gland Expression

Meibomian gland expression is a treatment. It helps unblock the oil glands in your eyelids. These glands produce oil that prevents your tears from evaporating at a rapid rate. When the glands get blocked, it can make your dry eyes worse. A doctor can perform a soft massage on your eyelids to release the oil and improve tear quality. This treatment helps restore a balanced tear film for better eye comfort.

Lifestyle Changes to treat eye dryness

• Blink more often consciously. It will distribute tears evenly across the eyes.

• Follow the 20-20-20 Rule 

• Wear sunglasses to protect eyes from sun exposure 

• Eat an eye-healthy diet. 

Conclusion

Dryness in the eyes happens when your eyes don’t get enough moisture. Symptoms of dry eyes are itchiness and blurry vision which can make your eyes feel uncomfortable. But don’t worry, it can be treated! Using eye drops, and taking breaks from screens. If eye dryness is still a problem, doctors at ABO Eye Hospital in Nagpur can help with special treatments. So, if your eyes feel dry for a long time, it’s a good idea to talk to an ophthalmologist. Taking care of your eyes helps them stay healthy and comfortable!