Most people know the basic symptoms of dry eye. The itching, redness, and, of course, the most obvious symptom, dry eyes, are what’s expected.
But dry eye can come with a lot of other symptoms, as well as turn into an even bigger problem. Keep reading to find out if dry eyes can cause blurry vision!
Dry Eye Symptoms
If you experience any of the following symptoms, these are commonly associated with dry eye syndrome:
- Itchiness – Lack of moisture causes irritation in the eyes.
- Redness – As eyes become more and more irritated, the blood vessels begin to enlarge. This causes your eyes to look more red or bloodshot.
- Grittiness – You may experience a sensation like something is in your eye, even though there is nothing there.
- Light sensitivity – It may become difficult to be around bright lights, particularly outdoors on a sunny day.
- Mucus – A stringy discharge of mucus may be present around the eyes.
- Watery eyes – As your eyes become drier, your body may overcompensate and begin creating too many tears.
- Blurry vision – A combination of watery eyes and eye fatigue may cause blurry vision.
When Dry Eye Gets Out of Control
If left untreated, dry eye can progress through a series of stages. This can lead to the adding and worsening of symptoms until permanent damage occurs.
During the first stage, you will experience only mild symptoms. You may find yourself blinking more frequently and be more tempted to rub your eyes.
Upon reaching the second stage of dry eye, symptoms will become more pronounced and distinguishable. Dryness will increase and your eyes will become redder.
By the time you encounter the third stage of the disease, symptoms will have become severe. Inflammation will have become so great that it may interrupt tear production.
This creates a cycle that causes your eyes to rapidly become even drier, leading to the fourth stage. If you reach the fourth stage of dry eye, the lack of moisture can be so great that abrasions and scars may begin to form on the surface of your eyes.
You will also be incredibly vulnerable to eye infections without the protective layer of tears. There’s no reason to let your eyes get to this point without intervention!
How to Deal With Dry Eye
It’s best to treat dry eye and its symptoms early on. Later stages of the disease could require more drastic measures. This could include anti-inflammatory medication and even surgery.
Diagnosing the problem early is important as well, as dry eye can occur due to several different factors. During an appointment with Colorado Eye Consultants, the doctor will be checking to see what the cause of your dry eye is.
It may be caused by a lack of tears, if the tears that are being produced are not balanced properly, or a combination of the two.
If you are not producing enough tears, the doctor may prescribe medication that stimulates tear production. They may also place punctal plugs in your eyes to stop tears from draining.
If tears are missing an ingredient, it is usually oil. Oil is what coats the tear and prevents it from evaporating.
If this is the case, you may need warm compresses and specialized therapy to unblock the oil-producing glands in your eyelids.
Not sure what could be making your eyes so dry? Get the relief you need by scheduling an appointment at Colorado Eye Consultants in Littleton, CO!
Don’t let your dry eyes get any worse or stand in the way of enjoying your summer!
