Are you dealing with dry eyes? This common condition causes your eyes to be irritated, itchy, red and watery. Fortunately, we’re here to help you prevent dry eyes or alleviate your uncomfortable symptoms.

What is dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is an eye condition that affects approximately one in 5 adults. It occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears produced are of poor quality. This means your eyes won’t be properly lubricated which can lead to vision problems or an uncomfortable sensation in your eyes.

Common causes of dry eyes

Dry eyes can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:

• Hormonal changes in women such as during pregnancy
• Wearing contact lenses
• Staring at a computer screen for too long
• Being in a hot or windy climate
• Exposure to cigarette smoke
• Side effects of medication
• An underlying medical condition such as blepharitis
• Ageing

Signs and symptoms

Dry eyes tend to affect both eyes. Some signs to watch out for include:

• Sensitivity to light
• A gritty or scratchy sensation in your eyes
• Eye redness
• Trouble wearing contact lenses
• Difficulty driving at night
• Watery eyes
• Blurry vision
• Burning or stinging sensation
• Tired eyes

Who is at risk for developing dry eyes?

Although dry eyes can affect anybody, you’re more likely to develop dry eyes if you:

• Are 50 years old or older
• Wear contact lenses
• Are female
• Don’t get enough vitamin A
• Have a medical or autoimmune condition like lupus

Assessing and treating your eyes

Although there is no permanent cure for dry eyes, our experienced opticians can assess your eyes and help you alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.

During your dry eye assessment, we’ll conduct a sight test. We’ll recommend the best treatment option based on our findings such as eye masks, eye drops, eyelid wipes or cleansing. Our Finchley practice also offers eyelid treatments such as a blepharitis treatment.

To help you maintain happy and healthy eyes, we also encourage our patients to sign up for an eyeplan or our subscription scheme.

Although dealing with dry eyes can be irritating, it’s possible to enjoy healthy and comfortable eyes once more.