Dry Eyes Specialist
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Stockdale Optometry
Optometry & Licensed Optometrists located in Bakersfield, CA
Do your eyes feel itchy, uncomfortable, or painful? You might have chronic dry eye. Dry eye is a common condition that can leave your eyes irritated and red, but you can find relief with the help of the optometric physicians at Stockdale Optometry. Serving people in and around Bakersfield, California, the team regularly diagnoses and treats chronic dry eye. Find relief for your itchy, painful eyes by calling the office or requesting your first appointment online today.
Dry Eyes
What is dry eye?
Dry eye is a condition that can develop when your eyes don’t make enough tears, the tears are low quality, or they evaporate too quickly. Eyes have a complex lubrication system that keeps them moist and healthy. When tear production changes, eyes dry out and get irritated.
Your tears contain water, oil, mucus, and proteins. When you blink, a tear film coats the surface of your eye to protect it from the environment and nourish cells. Chronic dry eye occurs when the surface of your eye isn’t lubricated effectively.
Changes in the composition of your tear film or a decrease in tear production can lead to dry eye. Some factors, such as getting older, taking certain medications, or regularly staring at a computer screen without blinking can increase your risk of developing dry eye.
If you regularly experience uncomfortable dry eyes, it’s time to learn more about treatments available for chronic dry eye.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
Chronic dry eye usually affects both eyes. The most obvious symptom is feeling like your eyes are dry, but it’s not the only symptom. Common signs include:
- Stinging or burning
- Itchy eyes
- Blurry vision
- Watery eyes
- Eye redness
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Sometimes, people with dry eye experience watery eyes. Watering is the body’s response to decreased tear production, but it usually doesn’t relieve symptoms of dry eye.
How is dry eye treated?
The Stockdale Optometry team performs comprehensive eye exams to diagnose dry eye. The optometric physician evaluates the health of your eyes and the quality of your tears. If your tears are poor quality or they evaporate quickly, the team can recommend treatment options to relieve chronic dry eye.
For many patients, artificial tears provide effective dry eye treatment. Artificial tears mimic natural tears and help keep your eyes lubricated. People with severe dry eye may benefit from a number of treatment options, including prescription eye drops or oral medications.
Other treatment options for dry eye include closing tear ducts to keep your tears on the surface of your eye longer. Small plugs called punctal plugs are placed in your tear ducts to block them. Some people find warm compresses and eyelid massages help stimulate tears.
You don’t have to live with eye discomfort and redness. Make an appointment with the optometric team at Stockdale Optometry by phone or online today.
