Find Comfort for Your Dry Eyes with Total Vision

Did you know that your tears are essential for maintaining the health of your eyes and helping you see? They lubricate the eye surface, help focus light, wash away debris, prevent infection, and nourish your eye tissues.

If your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or your tears lack essential components that make them work, you can develop dry eyes. Dry eyes are common and often chronic, come with uncomfortable symptoms, and can lead to complications if left untreated.

We’re committed to providing total vision care at Total Vision Solana Beach, including comprehensive dry eye diagnosis and treatment options!

You don’t have to live with painful, dry eyes. For dry eye treatment in Solana Beach, schedule your eye care appointment today.

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Causes of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eyes occur when you either don’t produce enough tears or if the tears you produce are lacking certain nutrients. But there are quite a few reasons why this can happen in the first place:

Age

Natural age-related changes to the eyes can affect tear production. Most patients who develop dry eyes are over 65.

Hormones

The hormonal changes women experience during pregnancy and menopause can cause dry eyes

Medications

Some medications have ocular side effects, such as antihistamines, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and decongestants.

Medical conditions

Some systemic health conditions can cause dry eyes, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid problems. Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis), a problem with the tear-producing glands, inflammation of the surfaces of the eye, or the turning of eyelids can also cause dry eyes.

Environment

Dry, arid climates and environmental conditions like smoke and wind can cause dry eyes. Your work environment can lead to dry eyes, for example, looking at a computer screen or working near an air conditioner or fan.

These can all contribute to an imbalance in your tear film.

How the Tear Film Works

The tear film is made of 3 distinct layers, each with its own essential role:

The Mucin Layer: The inner mucin layer is made of mucus that’s produced by the conjunctiva. This mucus helps the tear film stick to the eye’s surface.
The Aqueous Layer: Produced by the lacrimal glands, this middle layer is made almost entirely of water. It’s responsible for keeping the eye clean, washing away particles, and nourishing the eye tissues.
The Lipid Layer: The outer, oily layer keeps your tears smooth and clear and prevents them from evaporating too quickly. It’s produced by the meibomian glands.

Every time you blink, your tear film is spread across the surface of your eye and drains into your tear ducts. If something compromises the integrity of your tear film, you’ll likely develop dry eyes.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eyes come along with some irritating symptoms, including:

Redness
Stinging, scratching, or burning in the eyes
Sensitivity to light
Excessively watery eyes
Stringy mucus in the eye
Blurry vision

Treating Dry Eye Disease

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to treating dry eyes, but they are treatable! If you struggle with any dry eye symptoms, please call us. We’ll get to the root of your problem and recommend a personalized treatment plan.

Treatments may involve:

Adding Tears: Over-the-counter eye drops can help relieve mild cases of dry eyes. There are many options available, and some may not be the best for your eyes, so please ask your optometrist for their recommendation.
Conserving Tears: Small plugs inserted into your tear ducts can prevent your tears from draining too quickly. These little plugs are silicone or a gel-like material that can be removed if needed.
Increasing Tear Production: Eye drops that promote tear production can be prescribed by your optometrist. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids may also help encourage tear production.
Treating Eyelid or Eye Surface Inflammation: If your dry eyes are caused by blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction, prescription eye drops or ointments to reduce inflammation, or lid massage and warm compresses to help break up blockages can help improve your symptoms.