Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eyes don’t occur due to one single cause, but several factors can lead to a common set of disruptive symptoms. Because of the many causes of dry eyes, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Please speak with us for information on managing and treating your dry eyes, whatever the cause.

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Dry Eye & Your Cornea

Your cornea is a transparent skin-like tissue responsible for bending light onto a focal point on the retina in the back of your eye. The cornea requires sufficient moisture to keep from drying out and warping (like in extreme cases of dry eyes). In milder dry eye cases, redness and irritation are the first signs that your cornea isn’t adequately hydrated.

Your tear film both hydrates and oxygenates your corneal cells.

The Tear Film

The tear film is essential in maintaining your ocular health and overall comfort. It’s made of 3 distinct layers:

Mucin layer: This layer acts as a foundation, keeping the tears adhered to the surface of the eye.
Aqueous layer: The watery layer is produced by the lacrimal glands and provides most of the moisture the eyes need to stay comfortable.

Lipid layer: This oily layer is produced by the meibomian glands and prevents the tear film from evaporating.

Types of Dry Eye

Dry eyes occur either because the tear film evaporates too quickly or the tear film layers are unbalanced. When issues with the tear film develop, the corneal can surface suffer and lose its smooth, clear, healthy function. Your eyes will become irritated, and you’ll have to see an optometrist for help.

Evaporative Dry Eye

Evaporative dry eye occurs when your tears evaporate too quickly because of insufficient oil production. Irritation and redness are common with this type, and your eyes might feel puffy.

Aqueous-deficient Dry Eye

The water level of your tear film might also be the problem. If your tears are impacted by a problem with the lacrimal gland, you might have aqueous tear-deficient dry eyes.

Managing Dry Eye

After providing an accurate diagnosis, our optometrists can help you manage dry eyes and provide you with long-term relief. For moderate cases of dry eye, over-the-counter or prescription eye drops can help a lot, and we can provide available remedies to help you find comfort and get your eyes feeling healthy again.

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