If you’ve heard of the term dry eyes, you may just think of them as a feeling or a symptom. However, dry eyes or dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition affecting many Americans. But you don’t have to suffer through the symptoms of red, gritty-feeling eyes. We can help.
Our experienced optometrist Dr. Nguyen and her optical care team can diagnose this condition and alleviate your symptoms with appropriate remedies. It all starts with a visit to our clinic in Cypress.
Dry eyes or dry eye syndrome refers to a condition whereby the eyes either do not make enough tear film to keep them sufficiently lubricated, or the tear film evaporates too rapidly.
The tear film is crucial for keeping our eyes healthy and functioning as they should. It’s produced by a small, almond-shaped gland called the lacrimal gland. The tear film has several functions, including:
The tear film is not only made of water—it’s actually a complex combination of substances, including oils and proteins.
It’s not always known what exactly causes dry eyes, but we do our best to uncover the source. However, certain factors make this chronic condition more likely, including:
When is comes to symptoms, you won’t be surprised to learn that one of the primary signs of dry eyes is dry eyes. In addition to that tell-tale sign, other indicators of dry eyes can include:
Fortunately, we can usually treat dry eyes relatively easily, most often with prescription eye drops.
During your appointment with Dr. Nguyen, she will assess the level of your dry eyes and treat them accordingly.
For most people, treating dry eyes with prescription eye drops helps alleviate their symptoms. If those are unsuccessful, other treatments are available, including gels, ointments, and punctal plugs.
No matter how severe your symptoms are, Dr. Nguyen will strive to find a treatment solution that suits you and brings your eyes some much-needed comfort. She’ll also recommend some excellent omega-3 supplements to maintain your eye health. Say goodbye to dry eyes!
