The Different Types of Dry Eye Reviewed

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Did you know there are different kinds of dry eye? Which one do you have? Your optometrist in Brunswick, GA, can perform a few simple tests and let you know. But until then, here are the different types of dry eye.

The Different Types of Dry Eye Reviewed

Here is what you need to know about the different types of dry eye in Brunswick, GA.

  • Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye – This is when your eyes need more tears than your eyes are producing.
  • Evaporative Dry Eye – This is when the tears in your eyes evaporate too quickly.
  • Mixed Dry Eye – This is when you have both aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye. So, your eyes don’t make enough tears, and your tear film is also unstable.

Your eye doctor will review your medical history, give you an eye exam, and then perform a series of tests to reveal if you have dry eye. And if you don’t, your doctor will be able to diagnose what it is you do have and treat it.

The Symptoms of Dry Eye

If you are experiencing dry, itchy eyes that burn, sting, or are sensitive to light, you might have dry eye. If you have mucus coming out of your eyes or have watery eyes with an abundance of tears that run down your face, you might have dry eye.

Risk Factors for Getting Dry Eye Disease

There are several risk factors that could result in you getting dry eye. There are environmental and lifestyle factors, taking certain medications, eye surgery, or even some neurological conditions or autoimmune conditions that increase your risk of getting dry eye.

Are You Looking for an Optometrist in Brunswick, GA?

If you think you might have dry eye but are not sure, please Contact Vision Source Family Eye Care to schedule an exam. The sooner you get your eyes checked, the sooner you will get some relief! And we can help you with that!

Common Tests for Diagnosing Dry Eye Disease

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If you think you have dry eye, you are going to need to see an optometrist in Jesup, GA, to diagnose and confirm it for you. And if you do have it, you are going to want some relief…right? An optometrist will go through the following steps to determine if you have dry eye disease.

Medical History Review

Your optometrist will ask you to answer some questions about your medical history. And they are going to want to learn about your symptoms, too. You can expect a lengthy list of questions that will help your optometrist understand your history.

Initial Eye Exam

At your initial dry eye exam in Jesup, GA, your optometrist will look for signs of dry eye. They will also look for other possible causes of your symptoms as well. After that, they will look to see how healthy your tear film is. The tear film consists of the three layers of tears covering your cornea. And finally, they will do some testing.

Tests Used to Diagnose Dry Eye Disease

  • Slit Lamp Exam – This test checks the amount of tears your eyes are making. They will shine a light into your eyes and use a microscope to examine your eyelids and eyes.
  • Schirmer’s Test – This one is an additional test that checks your tear production. The eye doctor will put a small piece of paper along the edge of your eyelid for a few minutes to check your tear response.
  • Tear Breakup Time Test (TBUT) – This test checks to see how quickly the tears in your eyes evaporate. The eye doctor will put some dye into your eye. They will then use a microscope to see how long it takes the tear film to break up.

Looking for an Optometrist in Jesup, GA?

Dry eye isn’t fun. And it’s so uncomfortable for most people, who just want to scratch their eyes out. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Please Contact Vision Source Signature Eye Care today. We want to help you get some relief.

6 Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

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Dry eye syndrome affects people from all backgrounds. Yet, of the millions of people afflicted with dry eye syndrome, many of them have no idea what actually caused the condition to develop. If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, you can get treatment from your eye doctor in Jesus, GA. In the meantime, learn more about the six common causes of dry eye syndrome.

1. Smoking

Smoking irritates the eyes and has been shown to be a contributing factor to dry eye syndrome. Smoking also has a tendency to dry out the eyes, as well as mucous membranes. This is one reason why smokers often get more respiratory illnesses and have bad breath from a lack of saliva.

2. Insufficient Blinking

People blink at different rates, and it’s been discovered that those who blink less have a higher incidence of developing dry eye syndrome. Interestingly, when people look at screens, they tend to blink less frequently. Therefore, the use of screens is also a factor that can cause dry eye syndrome.

3. Previous Eye Surgery

If you’ve undergone eye surgery in the past, such as for glaucoma, LASIK, cataracts, or something else, you will have a heightened risk for dry eye syndrome. This is due to how surgery can affect the function of tear glands.

4. Allergies

Allergy sufferers often have dry eye syndrome, simply because their eyes become irritated in the presence of certain allergens. In a case like this, treating the underlying allergy may alleviate the dry eye symptoms.

5. Overuse of Eye Drops

Over-the-counter eye drops are okay for temporary use over a short period of time. But many people overuse them, thinking that they are helping with dry eyes. In reality, it may actually be the eye drops that are causing dry eyes, creating a vicious circle of overuse of eye drops, which exacerbates the condition.

6. Physical Abnormality

There may be a physical reason why the tear glands are not functioning as they should. In cases like this, corrective surgery may resolve the dry eyes syndrome.

If you suffer from dry eyes in Jesus, GA, contact Vision Source for an appointment. We offer diagnostics and treatment for dry eye syndrome for patients in our offices in Jesup, Brunswick, and St. Mary’s, GA.