While dry eye can be profoundly irritating and distracting, many people will neglect their symptoms, assuming that things will clear up on their own. By having your eye health examined by the independent optometrist operating within Woodstock Optical – Dr. Kassam – you will only lose an hour of your day to find out exactly what is causing your discomfort.
It’s a very common condition that affects around 30% of Canadian adults. Accordingly, high quality and accessible treatments have been developed, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Possible Symptoms
Dry eye sufferers can experience anywhere from one or two to many of the following symptoms. If you notice any of them persisting, it’s worth getting a proper diagnosis.
- Burning sensation around the eye
- Tiredness
- Itchy or red eyes
- Blurred vision
- Grittiness in the eye
- Struggling to keep your eyes open
- Watering eyes
Causes
Quite often it is caused by your environment: dry or recycled air can whip moisture from your eyes, and low-humidity environments can trigger the condition. Other possible causes include:
- Side effects from medication (such as birth control or antihistamines)
- Meibomian gland dysfunction
- Smoking, or poor diet
- Allergies
- Skin diseases which target the eye or eyelid