Stop Crying Over Dry Eyes
Are your eyes scratchy, red, dry, and sore? Dry eye syndrome (DES) affects a significant proportion of the population, and while it is more common in the elderly, it can affect all ages.
Affinity Health – providers of affordable health care for all South Africans – talks about the common symptoms of DES, risk factors, and treatment options available.
Did you know that even when you’re happy, your eyes are full of tears? Tears provide your eyes with the moisture and lubrication needed to see comfortably.
When tears don’t provide enough moisture, your peepers feel gritty, irritated, itchy, and sore. Dry eyes can also affect your vision, making things appear blurry and extra sensitive to light.
Sometimes, dry eyes create too many tears (known as reflex tearing) to make up for the dryness. While reflex tearing helps wash debris away, it doesn’t coat your eye’s surface and, despite the tears, they still feel dry.
Many factors can cause dry eyes, including:
- Being in the wind or an arid climate
- The natural aging process, especially menopause
- Certain diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases
- Taking certain medicines, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, cold medication, sleeping pills, anxiety and antidepressant medicines, and heartburn medicines
- Problems that don’t allow your eyelids to close the way they should
- Working frequently with a computer or using a smartphone or other portable digital device
- Smoking has been linked to dry eyes, along with other serious eye problems, including macular degeneration and cataracts
“The good news is that there are several treatment options if you suffer from chronic dry eyes,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.
“Affinity Health members can simply book a visit to their closest Spec-Savers Optometrist, who might recommend prescription eye medications and in-office procedures to help your body create and secrete more tears and to decrease eye irritation and inflammation.”
For more visit: www.affinityhealth.co.za