Tears are necessary for clear eyesight and overall visual health. Every time you blink, tears are spread across your cornea to keep your eyes moisturized. They also help wash away surface debris, reducing your risk eye irritations or infections.
When your eyes fail to produce enough tears, or they are of different consistencies, you may have dry eye syndrome. Guilford Eye Center, your trusted provider of contact lenses and other eye care services, talks about this condition in detail.
How Dry Eye Disease Develops
Tears consist of three sections: outermost oily layer, middle water layer and innermost mucus layer. The first one is responsible for preventing the water region from easily evaporating. The middle section, on the other hand, keeps your eyes lubricated while the mucus layer helps spread the tears evenly on your corneal surface. Any irregularities with these layers may result in dry eye syndrome.
Your eye care center explains that dry eyes may also occur when your eyes do not produce enough tears. Getting older is actually one of the primary factors behind this problem. As you grow older, your tear glands may also decrease in number, leading to a reduced tear production rate. Apart from age, environmental conditions, certain medications and some pre-existing eye conditions are major risk factors as well.
LipiFlow®: The Ultimate Solution for Dry Eyes
Applying moist, warm compresses to your eyes can help relieve dry eyes. We may also suggest using artificial tear drops for your improved visual comfort. Drinking lots of water every day is another effective way to manage this problem and prevent it from recurring.
If dry eye symptoms persist, however, we may recommend the LipiFlow® system. This is an FDA-approved system that uses thermal heat to manage dry eye syndrome. The increased temperature it emits can reduce pressure in your clogged tear glands, causing tears to continuously flow.
For more information about dry eye or other eye care concerns, turn to Guilford Eye Center. Call us today at (336) 387-6777, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We see patients from High Point and nearby areas in North Carolina.
