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How Not To Let Your Eyes Run Dry? Explains Dr Saurabh Choudhry
Dry Eye Disease: How Are They More Likely To Suffer Injuries To Corneas?
Dry eye syndrome, commonly known as xerophthalmia, affects more than 100 million people around the world. People often visit ophthalmologists complaining of decreased vision, cataract or other eye-related infections, but are surprised to know that they suffer from dry eye syndrome. It is caused either due to inefficient tear production or excessive evaporation, leading to mild discomfort in the eyes, such as irritation, pain or swelling.
Its consequences range from subtle but constant irritation of the eyes leading to severe disturbance in your day-to-day activities. Dr Devesh Sharma, Cornea Expert, Amritsar Eye Clinic, throws light on things you should know about dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome can be caused due to a wide range of factors, such as imbalance in the composition of tears, inability to keep the eyes lubricated, medications and environmental factors. The common causes of dry eye syndrome include -
The common symptoms of dry eyes include:
The dry eye syndrome can be easily diagnosed through a comprehensive examination of your eyes. This involves testing of your eyelids and cornea and measurement of the quantity and quality of tears for any abnormalities. Apart from this, external examination of the eyes and your clinical history is of great significance to determine the exact cause of the condition.
‘For most people who have dry eyes, it's a chronic condition. Goal of the treatment is to deal with the symptoms and lower their occurrence. The treatment usually begins with a careful examination of the eyes to determine the factors responsible for the symptoms and keep the eyes moist,’ says Dr Sharma. This can be achieved in a couple of ways:
Artificial tears: These are lubricating eye drops that reduce the dry, scratchy feeling of the eyes.
Preserving tears: This can be done by closing the tear ducts (partially or completely), which normally serve to drain tears away. The closure conserves both, natural and artificial tears that may have been added.
Medications: Dry eyes caused by problems with the meibomian glands or due to blepharitis generally respond to specific treatment.
Dr Sharma says, ‘If left untreated for a long period of time, it may lead to an increased risk of infection and visual impairment.’ Dry eye syndrome is considered to be a growing health concern in the world and hence, needs attention.
The risk of suffering from this disease increases with age. So, the number of people affected by dry eye syndrome is expected to increase in the coming years, thereby adversely affecting productivity.
There are several simple homecare tips for patients suffering from dry eye syndrome Here are some simple and effective tips from our expert Dr Sharma:
Avoid direct air currents: People who are at a high risk of suffering from this condition should avoid direct contact of hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners or fans with your eyes.
Wear protective glasses while going out: It is advisable to wear sunglasses or protective glasses to prevent dust particles from entering your eyes. Also, good quality sunglasses can protect your eyes from the harsh UV radiations.
Use home humidifiers: In winter, a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air. Some people use specially-designed glasses that form a moisture chamber around the eye, creating additional humidity.
Remember to blink: Make it a habit to blink consciously while working on computers. This will help in spreading ears more evenly, eventually hydrating the eyes.
Avoid rubbing your eyes: Rubbing the eyes only worsens the condition. Instead wash eyes with cold water, if itching or irritation is experienced.
The content has been verified by Dr Devesh Sharma, Cornea Expert, Amritsar Eye Clinic.
Dry Eye Disease: How Are They More Likely To Suffer Injuries To Corneas?
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Dry Eye Disease: How Are They More Likely To Suffer Injuries To Corneas?
A thing about eye-strain headaches is that it goes away once you rest up for some time. It doesn't mean that your eye is injured or damaged. It could just mean that your eye muscles have been strained
Instead of having to use eye drops or other alternative treatments, a study suggests that remaining physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dry eye symptoms.
Dry eyes? Do not ignore, it could be a sign of thyroid disorder and meibomian gland dysfunction.
A recent medical study has revealed that dry eyes condition in humans can significantly reduce the rate of reading. Also, it may cause disturbance in daily tasks that need visual concentration for long periods. Notably, the chronic dry eye is a common disease in which natural tears fail to adequately lubricate the eyes, thus drastically affecting its functioning.
World Sight Day is observed on October 11. These are simple tips to remind you to give your eyes a break! Follow these tips and make sure your kids follow them too to ensure good eye health.
A new study on kids has revealed that more than 2 hours of screen time every day can poorly impact kids' cognition. That's one more reason to keep kids away from the screens!
Yoga can help you to deal with the bags under your eyes.
If you want to prevent dry eyes, you will have to cut down on using your smartphone or any other visual display unit, say doctors. Here are tips to help you manage the condition.
This is why the over-thinking and excessive stress can cost you your vision!
Early intervention helps to treat effectively and help regain vision.
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In most cases, one is unaware about the things hurting their eyes.
Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish-derived supplements and commonly used to treat dry eye disease is no more effective than placebo at alleviating the condition.
Did you know that wi-fi is destroying your sperm quality?
Making these dietary changes can help you prevent dry eyes
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