Are your eyes often dry? Do you frequently experience eye strain?
Various factors can cause dry eyes and eye strain and can be incredibly vexing. Regardless of the cause, knowing when to see your ophthalmologist is crucial.
They can provide an effective treatment plan to relieve the frustrating symptoms of dry eyes and eye strain. Keep reading to learn if you should see your ophthalmologist about dry eyes and eye strain and what it can mean to have healthy eyes!
What are Dry Eyes?
Dry eye syndrome is a common chronic condition that happens when your eyes don’t create adequate tears or produce poor-quality tears that evaporate rapidly. Dry eyes can result from different factors that disrupt a healthy tear film.
The tear film comprises three layers: mucus, watery, and oily layers. When these three layers are combined, they keep your eyes smooth, clear, and lubricated.
However, if you have a problem with any of these layers, you may experience dry eyes.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes typically affect both eyes. You may experience the following symptoms when you have dry eyes:
- Redness
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Strings of mucus around or in the eyes
- A sensation of having something in the eye, like a foreign body sensation
- A burning, scratchy, or stinging sensation in the eyes
- Watery eyes
What is Eye Strain?
Eye strain is a common condition due to eye fatigue or eye exhaustion from overuse. One of the leading causes of eye strain is an increase in digital devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops, and TVs.
This type of eye strain is called digital eye strain.
What are the Symptoms of Eye Strain?
The symptoms of digital eye strain not only affect your eyes but also other parts of the body, and they include:
- Dry eyes
- Itching
- Tired eyes
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Watery eyes
- Shoulder pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Burning sensation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Blurred or double vision
- Trouble keeping your eyes open
What is the Connection Between Dry Eyes and Eye Strain?
There are various ways dry eyes and eye strain are linked, including:
Infrequent Blinking
When you stare at the screen of a digital device like your phone or computer, it significantly reduces your blink rate. If you don’t blink enough, your eyes will feel dry and irritated, contributing to eye strain.
Blinking is an essential action that keeps your eyes healthy. With every blink, your eyelids spread a fresh coat of tears across the surface of your eyes. The fresh layer of tears keeps your eyes moist and lubricated, ensuring they remain comfortable and healthy. Humans usually blink approximately 15 times per minute.
However, you only blink 5 to 7 times a minute while using your laptop and other digital devices. The less you blink, the more your tears evaporate faster, making your eyes drier.
Incomplete Blinks
Too much screen time can result in incomplete blinks, where your upper and lower lids don’t completely meet, causing insufficient spreading of tears and leading to dry eyes.
Back-and-Forth Movements
Frequent eye movements, like what’s required while reading text on devices like a laptop, phone, or tablet, can increase irritation and escalate existing dry eye symptoms.
Glare
Glare from digital screens can wreak havoc on your eyes by causing eye strain and exacerbating dry eyes.
When Should You See A Doctor About Dry Eyes and Eye Strain?
If you spend a lot of time in front of digital screens, the following strategies could help alleviate any symptoms of dry eyes and eye strain you may be experiencing:
The 20-20-20 Rule
The 20-20-20 rule involves taking a break from looking at a screen every 20 minutes and looking at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Following the 20-20-20 rule can ease eye strain and reduce your chances of developing dry eyes.
While looking away, also remember to blink intentionally. Purposeful blinking can lubricate your eyes and reduce eye strain and dry eyes.
Use Artificial Tears
Also called lubricating eye drops, artificial tears provide moisture and lubrication, relieving dry eyes due to eye strain. You can purchase artificial tears without a prescription.
If your eyes still feel dry and irritated after trying these remedies, it’s best to book an appointment to see your ophthalmologist to determine the root cause of your symptoms and devise a plan to treat them.
Can an Ophthalmologist Offer a Long-Term Solution for Dry Eyes and Eye Strain?
Your ophthalmologist at Evergreen Eye Center can provide treatment options that offer longer-lasting relief, including:
BlephEx
BlephEx is an in-office treatment that removes biofilm buildup and the overgrowth of bacteria that cause inflammatory dry eye. BlephEx uses a handheld device with a medical-grade micro-sponge tip to spin and gently scrub away biofilm, bacteria, and debris from your eyelids and lashes.
Deep cleaning removes anything built up, resulting in cleaner, healthier eyelids. Healthy eyelids allow for normal tear production, which improves dry eyes and provides long-term relief.
iLux
iLux is a treatment that targets the meibomian glands. The meibomian glands secrete the oily layer of the tear film.
iLux uses a handpiece that delivers heat and gentle pressure to loosen blockages inside the meibomian glands. The treatment encourages oil to flow to your tear film, which helps prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly, keeping your eyes from getting dry and irritated.
iLux alleviates dry eye symptoms and provides lasting relief.
Say Goodbye to Dry Eyes and Eye Strain
Having dry eyes and eye strain can be frustrating. The good news is that the experienced team at Evergreen Eye Center provides effective treatment options that can offer long-term relief and improve your eye and vision health. Are you looking for a lasting solution for dry eyes and eye strain? Find yours by scheduling an appointment at Evergreen Eye Center today! It’s time to have the healthy, comfortable eyes you deserve.
