Dry Eye Blog

For contact lens wearers, a simple trip to the drugstore for eye drops can be daunting. The shelves are full of tiny bottles of liquid all claiming to be eye drops! But which ones are the best eye drops to treat your specific eye complaint? And which ones are safe to use with contact lenses?

Eye drops are a self-administered drug that you apply directly to your eyes. Since your eyes are extremely sensitive and vital for daily life, you really want to get this right!

Luckily for you, we’ve put together this foolproof guide. Read on to learn how to use eye drops with contact lenses and so much more!

Read more!

Dry eyes can be temporary. This is especially true if it is a result of prolonged exposure to screens, overuse of contact lenses, or being in a cold and dry environment. Taking a long break after a period of looking at your mobile phone or computer screen or going out of an air conditioned room should help relieve symptoms. The same can be said if you stop taking certain medications that’s causing the symptoms to occur in the first place.

However, many people experience chronic dry eyes, which means the condition never goes away completely. The good news is that the symptoms can be managed through long-term treatment. This specific diagnosis may also be in relation to other health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diabetes.

The FDA is warning consumers to stop using two eye drop products due to potential contamination. The products, "Dr. Berne's MSM Drops 5% Solution" and "LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair," may pose serious health risks, including vision- and life-threatening infections. The FDA has not received any reports of problems caused by these products. This warning comes after previous FDA warnings about eye drop brands linked to drug-resistant bacteria, which have resulted in deaths and infections across multiple states. The FDA found that the contaminated products were not sterile and contained an unapproved active ingredient. Dr. Berne's has issued a voluntary recall, but LightEyez has not responded to the FDA. LightEyez's product was found to be contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria linked to the outbreak. Another brand, Global Pharma Healthcare, had previously recalled its eye drop products due to potential bacterial contamination.

Dehydration affects the eye and the tissue around it in different ways. It can cause dark circles and the appearance of sunken eyes. Dehydration can also cause dry, red and irritated eyes as well as blurred and double vision. Dehydration can also be a sign of systemic diseases that damage the eye.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a disease or taking a medication that can cause dehydration, it is important to have regular comprehensive eye exams to monitor for any eye complications. If you are dehydrated and it affects your vision see an eye care professional immediately.

Adequate hydration is an essential part of protecting your long-term eye health. There are simple things we can do to stay hydrated and avoid eye complications.

Dry eye can lead to vision loss and even blindness if it goes untreated. A person should speak with a doctor if they experience ongoing symptoms of dry eye. Doctors can recommend medications, suggest lifestyle adjustments, and treat any underlying causes.

Treatment can help prevent worsening symptoms and complications, such as vision loss.

Do you often wake up in the morning with red, scratchy, and uncomfortable eyes? Do you have to force your eyelids open through dried mucus built up while you sleep? If yes, then you might be suffering from dry eyes. This is a common condition where your eyes cannot produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes properly or produce tears of poor quality.

When this happens at night, it can disrupt your sleep, leaving you frustrated and unrested. You may wake up with dry eyes because of an underlying health concern, allergies, or environmental factors.

There are various causes of dry eyes, but the good news is that different treatments are available to help alleviate the symptoms. The first step is understanding why your eyes are dry and why it seems to happen more at night.

CAUSES OF DRY EYES

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition due to a lack of moisture in your eyes. Every time you blink, you’re spreading a layer of tears across your eyes. These tears aren’t just water either, they’re a combination of proteins and nutrients that protect and nourish your eyes. Tears also act as a shield against dust and debris and get released in an attempt to wash away foreign bodies.

Some people experience dry eyes occasionally, which typically fade once the eyes are re-moisturized. Still, others deal with chronic dry eyes that can lead to secondary eye infections.

Various factors can increase your risk of dry eyes, some of which include:

• Age: As we age, our eyes’ ability to produce tears decreases, leading to dry eyes.  However, decreased blink rate with increased screentime has increased dry eye symptoms in younger age groups.
• Medications: Certain medications like antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants can reduce the amount of tears in your eyes.
• Environmental factors: Exposure to windy or dry weather, air conditioning, or smoke can dry out the eyes. Eye allergies are also a common trigger for dry eyes.  Increased use and duration of screentime can also decrease blink rate and tear production leading to dry eyes.
• Diet: A lack of a healthy diet, including vitamin A and omega-3, can affect your tear production.
• Medical conditions: Medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus can affect the tear production of your eyes.
• Sex: Women are more likely to experience dry eyes as well as have more severe symptoms.

Contact lenses can also worsen dry eyes, as the soft lenses might absorb the moisture from your eye’s surface.