July is dry eye awareness month and is much more prevalent condition than many people know. Beyond just an occasional nuisance brought on by allergies or other environmental factors, dry eye is a chronic condition affecting millions of Americans.
This common issue can be a cause of serious vision problems—especially if not treated adequately. Our eye health plays a much larger role in our overall health than we may give it credit. A condition as seemingly simple as dry eye can lead to permanent vision loss in some severe cases.
Dry eye awareness is especially important for women as it tends to affect women nearly twice as often as men. The good news is that with proper eye care, dry eye can be easily managed.
While we tend to only think of tears when getting emotional, our eyes actually manufacture tears continuously. These tears bathe our corneas and keep them from drying out. When we blink, tears are spread across our eye in order to lubricate the surface, so our eyes are protected from contaminates in the atmosphere.
Dry eye is a general term for any condition that limits or inhibits the production and distribution of moisture around the eye. The causes of dry eye vary and can often be attributed to factors in the environment or as a bodily response to a change in medication.
Other factors that contribute to dry eye include eye surgery, strain from not blinking while staring at screens for an extended period of time, and even contact lenses. As we age and experience hormonal change, the result can be an experience of dry eye. This is also why the condition is most common in Americans over the age of 50.
If you or a loved one are experiencing dry eye on a regular basis, there are some easy ways to try and remedy the condition. Lubricating eye drops also known as artificial tears, which most often comes in the form of drops, but can also be a gel or ointment, is the classic dry eye therapy treatment for dry eye.
The best way to ensure optimal eye health and that your dry eye is not a symptom of a larger issue is through regular eye examinations. Call Palmetto Eye & Laser Center at 864-583-6381 or use our website to begin scheduling an exam today!
