Dry Eye Treatment in Dubai
What is Dry Eye Disease?
The tear film plays an essential role in the health and function of the eyes. Tears keep the eyes moist, wash away debris and heal damage on the surface of the eyes. The amount of tears the eyes produce as well as the composition of those tears is vitally important.
Dry eye disease is an ocular surface disorder in which the eyes do not get the lubrication they need. The problem may be that the eyes are not producing enough tears, or that the composition of the tears is unbalanced.
Everyone experiences dry eye disease a little differently; some people do not even realize they have it, whereas others find their lives altered by it. If you are experiencing symptoms that may suggest dry eye disease, the team at the Atlanta Vision Institute can help.
Types of Dry Eye
There are two distinct types of dry eye disease. In aqueous dry eye, the eyes do not produce sufficient tears to keep the eyes properly lubricated. In evaporative dry eye, the eyes produce tears but the tear components are not balanced, causing the tears to evaporate quickly off the surface of the eyes.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease affects people differently, with varying levels of severity. Some people’s symptoms are only mildly annoying, whereas others find the symptoms practically life-altering. The most common symptoms of dry eye disease include the following:
- Stinging, burning or itchy eyes
- A “foreign body sensation,” which feels like a piece of dirt or debris is stuck in the eyes
- Red eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Eye fatigue or eye strain
- Discharge
- Sensitivity to light
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
If dry eye disease is not detected or left untreated, it can progress to cause serious damage to the ocular surface. In the worst cases, dry eye disease can also lead to loss of vision.
Dry Eye Disease Risk Factors
Certain factors raise the risk of developing dry eye disease; for instance, living in a dry, arid climate like Dubai. Women and contact lens wearers are more likely to develop dry eye disease; the same is true for individuals with autoimmune diseases, diabetes or certain dermatological conditions (particularly rosacea).
If you are experiencing any symptoms that may indicate dry eye disease, you should schedule an appointment with our team as soon as possible. During the appointment, we will take down a complete patient history, ask you about the nature and frequency of your symptoms and perform a comprehensive eye exam to look for signs of dry eye disease.
Dry Eye Disease Management and Treatment
Managing dry eye disease depends on the root cause and type.
Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes simple lifestyle tweaks, such as using a humidifier, applying warm compresses to the eyelids or increasing consumption of foods with Omega-3 fatty acids reduces the frequency or severity of symptoms.
Medications
Over-the-counter or prescription medications are another common type of treatment for dry eye disease. Artificial tears help keep the eyes moist. Prescription eyedrops help reduce inflammation of the eyelids that leads to dry eye problems.
Other Dry Eye Treatments
If lifestyle tweaks and medications do not provide the desired symptom relief, other options like clearing blocked oil glands with a treatment called LipiFlow, or closing the tear ducts, may be recommended.
Contact Us to Learn More about Dry Eye
The team at the Atlanta Vision Institute is committed to diagnosing and managing dry eye disease. For more information about dry eye disease, please call or email us today.