30% of us experience dry eye at some time in our lives.

Our eyes produce tears all the time, not just when we cry, experience a sudden rush of emotion or after yawning. Healthy eyes are covered with a fluid all the time, which prevents the eyes from becoming dry and keeps the eyes clear with comfortable vision.

If the tear glands produce a lower quantity of tears it can create dry spots on the surface of the eyes, resulting in dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome can occur at any age and in people who are otherwise healthy. It is more common with older age, when the individual produces fewer tears.

Optometrist Richard Major of Major Opticians advises that depending on its cause and severity, it may not be completely curable. However, in most cases, dry eyes can be managed successfully, usually resulting in noticeably greater eye comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms and in some cases, sharper vision.

“This is a common and obviously irritating condition. Because dry eye disease can have a number of causes, a variety of treatment approaches are used. Your eye doctor may recommend only one dry eye treatment or a combination of treatments, depending on the cause or causes and severity of your condition.”

“Richard adds, Successful treatment of dry eyes requires that you are willing to follow your optometrist’s recommendations and that you use the products he or she recommends consistently and as frequently as directed.”

Because dry eye disease can have a number of causes, a variety of treatment approaches are used by Major Opticians.

Artificial Tears

For mild cases of dry eyes caused by computer use, reading, schoolwork and other situational causes, the best dry eye treatment may simply be frequent use of artificial tears or other lubricating eye drops. Artificial tears usually are the first step in dry eye treatment.
Meibomian Gland Expression

A very significant percentage of dry eye cases are caused by inadequate oil being secreted from meibomian glands located along the margin of the eyelids. To treat MGD and evaporative dry eye, your optometrist may perform an in-office procedure called meibomian gland expression.

Warm Compresses

An alternative (and potentially more comfortable) way to help open clogged meibomian glands to treat dry eyes is to simply apply warm compresses to the closed eyelids to soften the hardened meibum.

Nutritional Supplements

Optometrists sometimes recommend nutritional supplements as part of a holistic dry eye treatment plan. Studies have found that supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids can decrease dry eye symptoms.
If you have mild dry eye symptoms, there are several things you can try to get relief before going to an optometrist. A reduction in computer time, blinking more frequently, thoroughly removing eye makeup and good quality sun glasses can make all the difference.

Major Opticians, with stores in Waterford and Carrick-on-Suir, are one of the longest practicing opticians in the south east of Ireland, established in 1975.
For further information, visit www.majoropticians.com or talk to the staff about getting the best protection for your eyes by calling 051 874392.