LASIK Facts

Stream of water starts to pour into dry fields and thirsty crops, as if the trap doors at clouds’ base had been opened due to reverberating thunder and zipping flashes of lightning. In countless phenomenon, flora and fauna functions best when there is enough moisture. Same thing goes with metal instruments that need oil to function properly. Human body is not an exception on this subject; dry eye care ensures that our eyes maintain certain level of moisture.

Tears of Health

You have probably heard or read the term “dry eye” in advertisement or commercials. What exactly is it? Dry Eye Syndrome or simply “dry eye” occur when correct formation of tears is not sufficient on eyes’ surfaces. Tears’ function is to lubricate and make the eyes relaxed. Older people are more susceptible to dry eye. Currently there are roughly 20-30 million Americans who suffer from mild dry eye and about 9 million are classified of having a modest to severe dry eye symptoms.

Awareness of the symptoms is an important part of dry eye care. Those with dry eyes experience constant irritation, aching, burning and grainy sensations. Cases left untreated could lead to more serious problems such as scarring, infection of the cornea, or even permanent loss of vision. Treatment is a must for Dry Eye Syndrome as it can be a debilitating condition if left untreated.

An Ounce of Prevention Worth a Gallon of Tears

Dry eye care begins with dry eye prevention. If you experiencing dry eye, avoid hair driers, wind, extremely warm rooms, and smoke. Other preventive measures include wearing of eyeglasses instead of contact lenses, use of tear ointment at bedtime, and placing humidifier in heated rooms.

From Dry to Damp

If dry eye cannot be prevented, then it is time for serious treatment. Eye drops, which often require no prescription, can function as short-term relief. These drops work as fake tears. As of the moment, scientists are working diligently to develop superior artificial tears.

In more serious dry eye care cases, the cornea becomes irritated. In some cases, anti-inflammatory agents are used to combat dry eyes. An effective dry eye care remedy for short-term usage includes topical steroids placed in eye drops. However, long-term use is not advised for it may lead to various side-effects. Researchers are trying to determine how to restrain the source of eyes’ swelling, instead of lubricating the eyes’ surface. One method is to close the channels from the eyes to the nose. Sometimes small plugs can be use to control the immediate draining of tears from the eyes.

The main purpose of dry eye care is to keep the eyes moist at all times. Like a soil that has successfully absorbed a long and steady rain.