How to Treat Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome results from an insufficient quantity or quality of tears lubricating the eye. It can cause constant pain from eye irritation, as well as a sandy or gritty sensation. If untreated, this syndrome can lead to scarring or ulceration of the cornea, and loss of vision.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Artificial Tears

1. Go to your ophthalmologist if you experience an occasional burning sensation in the eyes during times of low humidity or high pollution, a persistent and painful gritty sensation, or lowered tolerance of contact lenses.

2. Read about the type of dry eye syndrome that you have. Depending on the cause, dry eye syndrome can be treated as a temporary problem or as a lifelong disease requiring long-term treatment.

3. Be aware that in the early stages, the symptoms can come and go. Sometimes symptoms are worse in the morning, lessening as the day goes by.

4. Stay away from dust, pollen and tobacco smoke, which can aggravate this syndrome.

5. Talk with your doctor about using artificial tears or ointments for temporary relief. New types of eye drops, hormone therapy and antibiotics are often prescribed.

6. Be sure to inform your ophthalmologist about any other medications you are taking. Medications may be responsible for more than half of all cases of dry eyes.

7. Consider permanent closure of the tear duct or punctal occlusion if yours is a persistent dry eye syndrome. Punctal occlusion allows you to retain your own natural tears without the bother or expense of constantly replacing the tear film with artificial tears.

8. Ask about punctum plugs, the least invasive of the long-term solutions to dry eye syndrome. A small, soft silicone plug, about the size of a sesame seed, is nonsurgically inserted into the natural punctal opening. It is done very quickly and may offer immediate relief.

Tips & Warnings

• Some forms of dry eye syndrome benefit from the placement of tiny plugs in the ducts that drain tears from the eye. For severe forms, special goggles called moisture-chamber spectacles can be worn.
• With prolonged use, artificial tears can actually disrupt the eye's natural production of tears and lead to further aggravation of the condition, washing away the natural infection-fighting tear film on the eye.

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[pamelasteadmen]

on 4/8/2008 Thanks for the recommendation on Fortifeye Dry Eye therapy, I just bought some over the internet at www.fortifeye.com, before i purchased it i asked my Optometrist about it and he said it looked like a good formula. I will let this site know in a few months if it has helped. Heres hoping it allevisteds my dry eyes.

[ScubaSam]

on 4/3/2008 Since i swim a lot in pools and salt water i am looking forward to the hair health benfits Juna mentioned. However Tthe dry eyes is the main reason i started the fortifeye dry eye.

[ScubaSam]

on 4/3/2008 Thanks for the posts on dry eyes, i actually bought my third bottle of Fortifeye Dry Eye Therapy and I have to admit my eyes are feeling better!!

[tamierushton]

on 2/26/2008 i have had really dry eyes since i started taking allergy medications and wering soft contact lenses, i have tried every dry eye treatment on the planet and nothing has really helped. I will try the dry eye vitamins mentioned Fortifeye Dry Eye therapy and see if they help? I will keep you posted.

[JunaMcFaden]

on 2/14/2008 I have to share my dry eye story. After Lasik surgery I have had terribly dry eyes now for two years. I have had plugs put in , tried every single artificial tear including restasis my eye doctor had me taking flax seed oil everyday for a year too. nothing helped until recently. My ophthamologist recommended I try Fortifeye Dry Eye therapy, well it wasnt until I had almost finsished the first bottle that I noticed an improvement in my dry eyes. I have been taking it for about four months now and my eyes are back to normal, i have also noticed not only have my dry eyes gone away with this combination of fish oil, Gamma linolic acid, sesame and curcumin but my hair is thicker and shinier and my skin is more hydrated. It has worked much better than all the other treatmens i have tired, so if you have dry eyes try the fortifeye eye vitamins.