Finding the right dry eye - article about Finding the right dry eye

Finding The Right Dry Eye Care

If you need to know how to care for your dry eyes, you are not alone.

Prevalence Of Dry Eye Syndrome

People who have dry eye syndrome produce fewer tears than the rest of the population. Studies show that more than 3.2 million people in the United States need dry eye care. The condition is most prevalent in women – eight percent of women over the age of 50 in the United States have dry eyes that need care.

Causes

Dry eye syndrome is reportedly caused by on or more of three things:
Inflammation occurring with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or Sjogren's disease can cause dry eyes.
A problem with the outer layer of the tears may permit rapid evaporation of the tear fluid. This condition is sometimes caused by insufficient testosterone in the body.
Medications like antihistamines, antidepressants, and diuretics, among others, may interfere with production of tear fluid.

Symptoms

Sufferers of dry eye syndrome experience burning eyes, scratchy eyes, stringy discharge in the eyes, excessive tearing, intolerance of smoke and wind, and blurry vision.

Conservative Treatment

Dry eye care can be simple or complex, depending on what is causing your dry eye syndrome.

If dry eyes are a side effect of a medication your doctor has prescribed for you, tell your doctor about your dry eye problems. A substitute medication may be available that will treat your medical condition without causing your eyes to dry up. If no substitute is available, you may be able to diminish the side effect by decreasing the dosage of your medication.

Artificial tears are a temporary solution, but they can provide much needed relief to the dry eye sufferer. Artificial tears are merely saline eye drops that temporarily lubricate the eye. They are not a long-term solution for dry eye care, and they do nothing to treat or cure the underlying condition that causes the dryness.

Topical cyclosporine, which must be prescribed by a doctor, treats the inflammation that can cause dry eyes while it lubricates the eyes. Many patients report that they get fast relief from dry eye syndrome once they start using cyclosporine. This dry eye care treatment has very few, if any, side effects.

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