How to Manage Dry Eyes?
There are several ways used by doctors to treat or manage the symptoms of dry eye. In most cases, a patient tries more than one treatment, to know which one works better for him.
It is important to visit an eye doctor, because self-prescription could cause more damage than good. Your doctor will give the best pieces of advice based on your symptoms and lifestyle. These are some of the treatments used for dry eye:
- Artificial tears are used to moisten the eyes, but they do not have the ability to treat the main cause of the condition.
- Medicated eyedrops (must be prescribed by an eye doctor) that contain certain drugs to help enhance the production of tear film.
- In some cases, doctors prescribe steroid [5] eyedrops to fight inflammation.
- Lipiflow [6]: This is thermal pulsation device that warms and massages the glands used for tear film synthesis.
- Antihistamines or warm compresses: This is done to treat the dry eyes that are caused by allergic reactions.
People suffering from dry eyes for a long time are advised to visit an eye doctor regularly to prevent permanent blindness. The eyes are a very important organ, without we are unable to see or interact properly with our environment. Therefore, it is important to get proper treatment quickly.
There are several ways to avoid worsening of dry eye. It is important to stay hydrated, because it can improve the quality and quantity of one’s tears. Ensure you stay hydrated if you are outdoors during summer. People that use contacts are advised to switch to glasses to reduce the inflammation caused by contacts when the eyes dry up.
You should ensure you keep your face clean always, clean the face frequently with water-based wipes. But you must wash it at the end of every day. You can also use sunscreen sticks for your face rather than sprays. If you are going to be entering any body of water, make sure you wear appropriate eyewear.