When your eyes don’t create enough tears to stay wet, this is known as dry eye. Millions of people face this issue, particularly older adults.
The front surface of the eye, the cornea, needs nourishment, protection from foreign matter, and lubrication from tears. When tear production and excess drainage are unbalanced, you may experience dry eye. Untreated dry eye can feel like something is scratching, stinging, or blurring. It can also cause light sensitivity and blurry vision.
A 2018 study suggests you are more likely to have dry eye if you are 50 years old and older due to glandular changes in the eye. People assigned female at birth are more likely to develop dry eye because of hormonal changes.
Living in a dry or windy climate or exposure to smoke can also increase the likelihood of dry eye symptoms. Antihistamines, antidepressants, decongestants, or blood pressure medication can reduce tear production.
How is dry eye diagnosed?
Preexisting conditions and medications can help your doctor understand potential issues. A comprehensive eye exam may determine whether there’s an underlying issue causing dry eye.
During the evaluation, a doctor will dilate or widen your pupils and look at how your eyes react to light and how frequently you blink. Tear production and flow will be measured, possibly using special dyes.
Although this evaluation is painless, it may cause temporary blurry vision. Having someone to drive you is recommended.
In other cases, your doctor may recommend blood work or further testing to diagnose dry eye symptoms precisely.
Artificial tears are over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops often used to treat dry eye. There are also gels and ointments available OTC to relieve dry eye.
You can talk with your doctor about prescription treatments for dry eye and consider talking with a nutritionist about supplements and dietary changes that may help. Tear duct plugs or surgery may be needed to moisturize eyes in serious cases.
Additional treatment options for dry eye include thermal pulsation and intense pulsed light. Your doctor can help you find the best treatment to improve your quality of life.
How can I prevent dry eye?
Be sure to tell your doctor about all your medications and supplements to confirm dry eye isn’t a side effect. You can use a humidifier to keep the air from getting too dry. It’s also essential to wear wraparound sunglasses outside and to avoid smoke and windy conditions.
Taking breaks from looking at device screens and blinking frequently are vital. Drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep benefits the body in many ways and reduces the likelihood of dry eye.
If you’ve ever seen small dark shapes across your vision, you’ve experienced floaters. They can look like dots, circles, squiggly lines, and even tiny cobwebs appearing in your field of vision.
They often occur when looking at something light-colored and plain, such as a blank wall or the sky. The vitreous or liquid-like substance that covers your eye can have tiny clumps or cells, particularly as you age. The shadows cast on the retina are floaters.
Risk factors for floaters include aging, nearsightedness, and cataract surgery. Sometimes floaters indicate health issues such as eye infections, inflammation, bleeding, or other injuries. In some cases, retinal tears or retinal detachment can also cause floaters.
If you are noticing symptoms of floaters, consider scheduling an eye exam to talk with a healthcare professional about specific changes in your vision.
How are floaters diagnosed and treated?
A healthcare professional can give a diagnosis based on the same eye exam used to determine the cause of dry eyes.
Depending on the cause, if the issue isn’t severe enough to adversely affect your quality of life, no treatment may be needed. If it’s affecting your vision, surgery to replace or remove the vitreous in your eyes may be an option.
Where can I find support?
To learn more about issues that can affect the eye, go to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association. People with dry eye can find support at the Dry Eye Foundation and Not A Dry Eye Foundation.