What is Dry Eye?
Your eyes are stinging as you blink or maybe they're watering quicker than you can mop them up?
These are just two signs that you could be suffering from dry eye.
Dry eye is a fairly common condition particularly for avid digital users, over 50's and contact lens wearers.
The condition is caused by the improper production of tears, either your eyes don't make enough tears or the tears are of poor quality which means they dry up quicker leaving the eye dry and irritated. Ironically this can actually lead to the eye producing excess tears that provide only a short term relief.
The common symptoms of dry eye include:
A sandy or gritty feeling
Sore eyes
Uncomfortable and sometimes painful eyes
An itching or burning sensation
Short-term blurred vision
Watery eyes, as if you are crying
Blepharitis or Meibomian Glad Dysfunction can accompany dry eye. Symptoms of these include sore, red and inflamed eye lids.
Who is most likely to have dry eye?
Dry eye can affect many people from different environments, you maybe affected if:
you're over the age of 50
you wear contact lenses
you look at computer screens for a long time without a break
you spend time in air conditioned or heated environments
it's windy, cold, dry or dusty
you smoke or drink alcohol
you take certain medicines (for example, some antidepressants or blood pressure drugs)
you have a condition, such as blepharitis, Sjögren's syndrome or lupus.
What can you do to manage dry eye?
Managing dry eye tends to require an ongoing treatment plan which can vary depending on the severity of the dry eye or any additional complications such as blepharitis. Many cases can be helped by the use of eye drops*, particularly preservative free drops. Our top 'go-to' products suitable for dry eye are on our website.
Here's our top 3:
This is a great on-the-go treatment. The bottle is small enough for a pocket or a handbag and you simple close your eyes and spray. The lids then distribute the solution over the surface of your eye when you open your eyes. Easy and convenient and provides instant relief. And suitable for use with contact lenses.
Hycosan Original and Hycosan Extra for severe dry eye
Original is ideal for mild- moderate and extra is effective for more severe or persistant dry eye. Each can be used for up to 6 months after opening and are compatible with contact lens wear.
Ideal for moderate to severe dry eye, Thealoz helps to improve the thickness of the tear film for up to 4 hours and can be applied as often as necessary throughout the day, and are also suitable for contact lens wearers to apply before or during wear. Preservative free. Can be used for 3 months after opening.
*For bespoke advice and treatment plan you should speak to your optician.
