Diagnosing Dry Eye Syndrome
Our eyes are the most sensitive and easily disturbed part of your body. Even with slight irritation, they may start watering. Therefore, we have to take extra care in order to maintain eye health and prevent inflammation, especially with aging. It is therefore important to understand the symptoms of dry eye syndrome, and how it should be treated.
Tears & Why They’re Important
The eyes produce tears to remove irritants and to keep our eyes lubricated. Tears are made up of:
- Mucus
- Oil
- Antibodies
- Water
The above-quoted ingredients come from special glands around your eyes. An excess tear-flow from your eyes can occur due to poor tear drainage or overproduction of tears. Watery eyes are often not harmful but can be the cause of irritation. Alternatively, dry eye condition means that glands around the eyes aren’t working properly, and cannot adequately moisturise the eye.
What Happens If Tears Don’t Work Properly?
The production of tears is a natural cleaning mechanism, flushing away foreign objects that may come into contact with the eye easily. With the dry eye syndrome, the eye can not remove irritants effectively, and one of the two things can happen; insufficient or excessive production of tears. Inadequate production of tears may cause:
- Redness
- Irritation
- Continuous discharge of mucus
- Swelling
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
If your eyes drops out water continuously, the result is often Reflex Tearing. This is because your eyes will send a distress signal to your nervous system to have the eyes lubricated to overcome the irritation and dryness. And as a result, excessive tear production will start.
Causes Of Dry Eye Syndrome?
There are many reasons described by science for this syndrome. However, the main ones are:
- An unbalanced tear flow system
- Dried tear film
- Drug-induced side effects
- Natural aging process
- Menopause
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Collagen vascular diseases
- Lagophthalmos
- Blepharitis
- Uneven eyelids
- Long-term use of contact lenses
How Is The Syndrome Diagnosed?
You need to go through a comprehensive eye examination to determine the exact quality and quantity of your tears that are produced. Furthermore, your doctor will go through some more procedures to determine the exact cause of the syndrome, and those tests will include:
- General medical history to note the symptoms and health problems
- Environmental causes and age factor that may add more to dry eye condition
- External assessment of the eye like the eyelid structure and blink dynamics
- Eyelid and cornea evaluation with bright light and magnifying glasses
- Tear abnormality along with quality and quantity difference
- Insertion of special dyes will be performed to observe the tear flow along with changes in the outer surface
Once your optometrist/doctor performs all of the above tests, then he/she will be suggesting the best treatment based on the current situation to smoothen out your dry eye condition.
Various Types Of Treatments For Dry Eyes
There are a lot of treatments available for treating dry eye syndrome. However, here are a few that your healthcare provider will prescribe depending on the severity of your condition. These are:
- Artificial ointments and teardrops
- Conserving tears
- Non-dissolving punctal plugs
- Punctal occlusion by cautery
- Lipiflow
- Temporary Punctal occlusion
- Cequa
- Testosterone cream
- Lifitegrast
- Xiidra
- Fish oil
These solutions are not to be administered without an expert optometrist’s prescription and advice. Visit us today to book your eye test consultation with our expert doctors and optometrist.
The Forgotten Winter Accessory
As the days get shorter and temperatures start to drop, it's easy to forget about the importance of wearing sunglasses. But don't let the cold weather fool you: sunglasses are just as necessary in winter as they are in summer. Not only do sunglasses protect your eyes from harsh UV rays, but they also provide many other benefits that are especially important during the winter months.
Sunglasses are important for protecting your eyes from the cold weather
Windy days and chilly temperatures can cause irritation, and sunglasses can help to protect your eyes by blocking out the wind. Additionally, sunglasses can help prevent snow blindness, a condition caused by exposure to snow's ultraviolet light.
Get the best out of it
Sunglasses are a great way to stay fashionable in the winter months. It's easy to get stuck in a rut of wearing the same hat, scarf, and coat every day, but a nice pair of sunglasses can help spice up your look. Whether you prefer classic aviators or fashionable cat eyes, sunglasses can be a fun and stylish way to add a little something extra to your winter wardrobe.
Grab your favourite pair of shades and head out into the cold—your eyes will thank you.
Why do my eyes get dry in winter?
Why do my eyes get dry in winter?
Winter is a time when many people suffer from dry eye syndrome. Dry eye can be a very uncomfortable condition, causing symptoms such as:
- Burning
- Stinging
- Redness
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
For many people, winter is the worst time of year for dry eye as cold air, low humidity, and wind can exacerbate symptoms.
What are the treatments?
There are several treatments available to help manage dry eye. These include:
- Use artificial tears or eye drops to lubricate the eyes
- Increase the humidity of the environment
- Wear special glasses to block out the wind
In some cases, lifestyle changes such as avoiding smoking, reducing screen time, and wearing sunglasses may help reduce the symptoms of dry eye. In more serious cases, prescription medications or surgery may be necessary.
If you are suffering from dry eye, it is important to see your Optometrist for a proper diagnosis. Your Optometrist can help determine the underlying cause of your dry eye and recommend the best treatment for your condition.
Can dark chocolate improve our eyesight?
Chocolate lovers rejoice!
Recent research by the University of the Incarnate Word, Rosenberg School of Optometry, in San Antonio, Texas USA, suggests that eating dark chocolate could improve visual clarity.
Bars with more than 72% cacao increase ocular blood flow which enhances macular function and sharpens the ability to read words and numbers.
The new research tested people 2 hours after eating 47g of 72% Cacao dark chocolate, and again after 40g milk chocolate in separate sessions more than 3 days apart. The testing looked at various aspects of visual performance.
More than 70% of people scored significantly higher after eating the dark chocolate. The biggest improvement was in contrast sensitivity, which helps us see in low light, or when text is poorly printed. Another area that improved was visual acuity – a measure of the sharpness of vision.
Cacao beans are rich in flavanol, an organic compound which improves blood flow in the brain and cardiovascular system and aids in reducing inflammation.
Researchers proposed increases in blood flow could explain the improvements, but suggested more work needs to be done to understand the exact mechanism. In the meantime we think it sounds like a good excuse to load up on dark chocolate and do some private testing. Sounds like a delicious experiment.
Does my prescription need updating?
It is recommended to get an eye test once every two years, but during that time, it is possible that you perfect prescription may change. It can be difficult to notice the effects of an incorrect prescription, however, there are a few signs that your prescription may no longer be suitable for your eyes.
- Blurred Vision
This is the first and most obvious sign that your current prescription may not be working for you. If you are experiencing fuzzy or unclear vision while wearing your eyeglasses, it may be time for a new prescription.
- Your eyes feel tired
Eye fatigue can feel like your eyes are dry or you may interpret eye fatigue as needing to sleep. But it could be that your prescription is no longer accurate.
- Frequent headaches
Headaches are a symptom of many different things, which can make it hard to pinpoint the cause. If you are experiencing frequent headaches and wear glasses, it is worth checking that your prescription is still working for you.
If you are unsure if an incorrect prescription could be causing you issues, it is best to visit your optometrist to find out for sure.
Get Back to School Ready
Have you added an eye test to the list of back-to-school jobs? Approximately 80% of the primary school curriculum in Australia is delivered visually. Therefore, the ability for a child to see clearly is paramount to giving them their best education. There are some tell-tale signs that a child might be experiencing visual difficulties.
- Frequently rubbing eyes
- Complaining of tired eyes
- Sitting close to the TV or a book
- Closing one eye to see better
- Consistent incoordination
- Frequent squinting
If you have noticed any of these behaviours in your child, it might be time for an eye test. A children’s eye test can help to detect common conditions such as:
Myopia: A Condition in which objects that are near appear clear, and object farther away look blurry.
Amblyopia (lazy eye): Reduced vision in one eye.
Convergence insufficiency: Can cause blurry and double vision
The optometrist will also test for issues in binocular vision, focusing, eye tracking and colour vision. Book an appointment with us today to get your children's eyes tested!
Dry eye in the warmer months
The symptoms of dry eye are not just prevalent in the winter months, dryness can also affect eyes in the spring and summer months, sometimes even more so. This is caused by increased exposure to the sun and other season factors including visiting the ocean and pools.
Relieving the effects of dry eyes during spring and summer
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Always wear sunglasses
The UV protection that polarized sunglasses provide protect your eyes and reduce glare. This can help to reduce the onset of dry eye.
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Wear a hat when outside
By the same token, wearing a hat to shield your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun adds another layer of protection.
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Eye drops
There a multiple eye drops, both over the counter and prescribed that can help to ease the symptoms of dry eye.
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Rest your eyes
Performing tasks such as reading, watching TV or being outside in direct sunlight for long periods of time and cause dryness in the eyes. It is important to take a break from these activities from time to time to give your eyes a rest.
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Wash your hands
When spending time outdoors, your hands are exposed to pollens and irritants that can transfer to your eyes through touching and rubbing. Washing your hands regularly and avoiding touching your eyes can reduce redness and dry eye.
If you would like to discuss further treatment and prevention of dry eye during the warmer months, contact your optometrist today.
How your optometrist can help your hay fever
The irritation, itchiness and watery eyes that hay fever brings in the spring and summer seasons can be frustrating and affect your lifestyle. The constant rubbing can also lead to dryness and redness. Here’s how an optometrist can help you manage these symptoms of hay fever.
1.Non-prescription eye drops
Your optometrist can recommend over the counter eye drops depending on the symptoms and severity of your hay fever in relation to your eyes.
2. Prescription eye drops and medication
There are different types of prescription eye drops that an optometrists can provide for severe allergies such as antihistamine and anti-inflammatory eye drops.
3.Oral Antihistamines
In conjunction with eye drops, your optometrist may also recommend oral antihistamines to hep relieve hay fever symptoms.
Some other ways that you can help reduce the effect of hay fever on your eyes include:
- Wearing sunglasses when outside
- Use a dehumidifier in the house
- Keep your windows closed on high pollen days
- Wash your hands after exposure to pets, grass and other flora.
If you would like to discuss your options to treat the symptoms of hay fever in relation to your eyes, contact your optometrist today.
Top tips for better vision while driving at night
As winter arrives, driving at night becomes a more common occurrence. As a result, so do many of the common symptoms associated with night driving.
You know the feeling – tired eyes, haloes around street lights, sudden glare of oncoming traffic and wet, shiny streets.
With fatal accidents three times more likely to happen at night1, considering options for better vision when night driving can be very useful.
As we age, our pupils naturally become smaller. As a result, less light is able to enter the eye. This affects our colour recognition, our concept of how far away things are and reduces our side or peripheral vision.
Here are some helpful tips that can help to improve your night vision:
- Keep your glasses and the windscreen clean. Marks on either surface can create a halo effect around oncoming lights.
- Dim your dashboard lights
- Ensure you wear anti-reflective lenses as they allow more light to pass through to your eye, helping you to see more clearly. Standard lenses will reflect light, increase glare and reduce light transmission by almost 10%.
The importance of sunglasses during winter
Did you know that your eyes are susceptible to sunburn all year round? In fact, you may be at greater risk of damaging your eyes during the cooler months. Optometry Australia’s 2020 Vision Index revealed that over 75% of Australians don’t think that UV protective sunglasses are necessary for the winter months however this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Australia has one of the highest exposure levels of Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation in the world. UV radiation is emitted by the sun and exists in three forms:
- UVA – not absorbed by the ozone layer at all
- UVB – about 15% of UVB transmits through to the earth’s atmosphere
- UVC – absorbed by ozone and does not reach the earth’s surface
In terms of eye damage, it’s UVA and UVB rays that are concerning. 90% of UV radiation can penetrate clouds and that exposure can sometimes be made more intense due to reflections off these clouds. As the sun sits lower on the horizon in the winter months we are actually more exposed to those damaging UV rays, as they directly enter the eyes.
Another interesting fact is that UV exposure to the eyes is maximised between 8am to10am and 2pm to 4pm when the sun is lower in the sky often making these the most important times to be wearing your sunnies to protect from UV and give comfort from glare.
Eye problems arising from UV exposure
Too much winter sun without protective eyewear can potentially lead to:
- Photokeratitis – this is typically experienced by those who spend time in the snow and is often called snow blindness. The exposure to high doses of UV causes the cornea to become sunburnt.
- Cataracts – clouding of the eye leading to blurred and distorted vision
- Pterygium – typically experienced by surfers from overexposure to UV rays reflecting off the water’s surface. It results in a fleshy white-pink growth that can invade the cornea and disfigure the eye.
Sunglasses – a practical and fashionable solution
If you want to protect your eyes all year round (and you should!), simply wear a pair of quality sunglasses and in summer add a wide brim hat. If possible, look for lenses that are polarized as they offer greater protection as they cut down more reflections. All sunglasses sold in Australia must be tested and labelled according to the Australian Standards. This standard sets limits for the allowable UV transmission of sunglasses for adults and children. Your sunglasses should have a lens UV rating of at least 3. To know what the UV level is where you live, use the SunSmart app for live updates.
We offer a range of sunglasses to cater to your lifestyle needs. Whether it’s prescription sunglasses allowing you to see clearly when you’re outdoors or plano sunglasses if you’re a contact lens wearer or simply don’t require a prescription – we’ve got you covered.