With the large variety of possible vision and eye health issues that people can suffer from, it is important to seek regular appointments. The longer an eye condition goes untreated, the worse it will get. By understanding the various types of conditions and symptoms to watch out for, people can prevent the condition from getting worse and seek treatment.
One common condition that we see on a regular basis is dry eye. While this condition can occur at varying levels of severity, people may not seek professional treatment for it. In fact, dry eyes can be symptoms of other issues that people will consider treating instead of believing it is due to dry eyes.
If you have symptoms of dry eyes or other issues with your vision, call us and schedule an appointment at Texas Optical in Dallas, TX today.
Even though people may be tempted to buy some eye drops from the store for treating dry eye and leave it at that, the condition can be much more serious. By seeking a professional examination at our facility, we can help determine the extent of the condition, recommend treatment and help ensure there are no other health issues with the patient’s vision.
While store-bought eyedrops can help to treat the minor symptoms of dry eye and other issues, they will not be enough to treat the source of the problem. The eyes will continue to produce dry eye symptoms. Benefits of our dry eye treatment include:
We will take the time to customize the treatment to the patient’s needs so they can receive the proper care they need. For instance, if a patient’s dry eye is the result of another medication the patient is taking, we will work with them to find an effective treatment.
People may not realize they have dry eye or attempt to treat a more serious case with store-bought medication that is not effective. The danger of dry eye is that the longer it remains undetected and untreated, the worse it can get. Another concern is that many people will not seek treatment for dry eye, assuming it is only a seasonal issue or due to weather changes.
While seasonal allergies can cause eye irritation, dry eye is the result of a medical condition in the body. Thus, identifying the symptoms early on can help to enhance the treatment process. Symptoms of dry eye to watch out for include:
The condition known as dry eye is the result of a lack of tears in the eyes that contain a mixture of water, fatty oils and mucus. Protecting the eyes from infection, this mixture also helps to smooth out the surface of the eyes. Without this mixture, the eyes will become dry and be at risk for other infections. In some cases, wind, smoke or dry air can also cause dry eye.
Options for dry eye treatment will vary per the condition of the patient, the severity of the symptoms and the patient’s needs. The main focus of our treatment will be to treat the underlying cause of the dry eye. By doing this, we can help patients experience long-term relief. We may recommend eyedrops to help relieve symptoms. We may also prescribe stronger medication to help patients.
Another option involves partially or completely closing the tear ducts through the use of a surgical procedure or removable silicone plugs the patient uses. Patients can also use special contact lenses to help with dry eyes. We will also go over steps the patient can take at home to help with the symptoms.
While eye drops are a common method to help, patients can also place a warm damp washcloth over their eyes for about five minutes and gently rub the eyelids. This treatment can help to remove any debris in the eyes causing irritation.
One treatment method may not be effective without another. Thus, it is crucial to find the right combination from professional optometrists. Call us and schedule an appointment today.