Let's Talk About Chronic Dry Eyes

It’s normal for your eyes to feel dry from time to time. Maybe you spent a long day looking at screens, or you were outdoors when it was particularly windy.

If your eyes consistently feel dry, though, it’s a different story. Some people suffer from an uncomfortable condition called chronic dry eye. According to the National Eye Institute, this problem affects more than 16 million Americans. 

Are you one of them? If your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable a lot of the time, come see our eye health specialists at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates in Aiea, Hawaii. Dr. Endo and our team have experience treating eye conditions like dry eye, so we can customize a plan to give your eyes the relief they need.

What chronic dry eye feels like

The tears that moisten your eyes are a lot more complicated than many people expect. They contain three separate components: oil, water, and mucus. All three of those substances need to work together in the right combination to keep your eyes hydrated and comfortable. 

When your tears aren’t functioning properly, you experience symptoms like:

• Eyes that feel dry
• The sensation of something scratchy in your eye
• Blurry vision
• Eyes that sting or burn
• Red eyes
• Mucus in or around your eyes

Surprisingly, persistently watery eyes can be a sign of dry eye, too. As the dryness irritates your eyes, your body attempts to compensate by producing more tears. But if those tears aren’t working the way they should, the problem persists. 

If all of this sounds familiar, it’s time to come see Dr. Endo and our team. 

Relieving your dry eyes

To determine if you have chronic dry eye, Dr. Endo starts with an eye exam. During it, he evaluates your eyes, the quality of your tears, and how long it takes for them to dry up. This allows him to personalize a treatment plan to you.

Once you’re diagnosed with chronic dry eye, we put a plan into motion to relieve your eye symptoms. Usually, that means starting with conservative measures like artificial tears — which are available over the counter — and lifestyle changes. Using a humidifier at home and taking regular breaks from looking at screens can help, for example. 

If your eyes still feel dry, Dr. Endo scales up the interventions he recommends. You can use medicated eye drops specifically designed to treat dry eye. Or you may benefit from punctal plugs, tiny silicone devices that keep more of your tears in your eyes. 

You don’t have to live with eyes that feel persistently dry and irritated. To find treatment that soothes them, call us or book an appointment online today.