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What Is Dry Eye Syndrome? Definition, Symptoms, And Treatment

Expert Advice

While no single organ of the human body can be highlighted as the “most important”,  you can’t deny that dealing with watery eyes or irritation is quite annoying. The scratching, redness, and constant blurring of vision can easily set the mood off and you find yourself fumbling for a quick fix. Since your eyes are exceptionally delicate, they require extra care and attention.

Pexels | For eye problems, you have to visit an expert who will examine your eye and prescribe medicine accordingly

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Patients with dry eye syndrome suffer from irritation, as a primary result of this condition is a lack of tears. Many people assume that tears are only present when you reach the peak of emotion but in reality, tears work as lubricators that keep the eye from drying out. If the eye suffers from dryness, it will cause not only irritation but can also create vision issues. According to a 2019 article in Ophthalmology Times, around 16 million Americans suffer from this problem.

Pexels | What’s most alarming is the fact that this syndrome is more common than you think and is usually found in older adults

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is often confused with temporary dryness because they exhibit identical symptoms. But, if your eyes are dry from standing in a windy area or in dry weather then your eyes should recover in a better environment. Unfortunately for people suffering from dry eye syndrome, they have to deal with the symptoms constantly.

Symptoms for dry eye syndrome are:

  1. Irritation
  2. Burning or stinging
  3. Redness
  4. Light sensitivity
  5. Blurred vision

Pexels | If you’re troubled by symptoms as such, it’s time for a check up

Treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome can be caused due to a number of reasons which include age, gender, medication, certain medical conditions, environmental changes, dietary habits, and usage of contact lenses but, what about its treatment? Unfortunately, dry eye syndrome does not have a cure so a patient can only take medications to ease their discomfort. Generally, doctors prescribe different remedies for different patients as there is no definitive fixer for this syndrome.

Some of the treatments include:

  1. Over the counter artificial tears
  2. Eye drops prescribed by the doctor
  3. Tear duct plug/ surgery
  4. Using a humidifier, sunglasses, and staying hydrated

Before you jump to the conclusion, make sure to check in with your doctor and get your eyes a proper examination.

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