Key Takeaways
- Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears or when your tears lack the right balance.
- Burning, grittiness, redness, watery eyes, and blur that clears when you blink are common signs.
- Screen time, dry indoor air, age, some medications, and certain health conditions can play a role.
- An eye exam can tell dry eye apart from allergies or infections.
- Home habits and in-office care can help manage your symptoms.
Your Symptoms Tell a Story
You finish a long afternoon of emails, and your eyes feel like there’s sand under your lids. Or maybe you find your eyes watering whenever you take a walk along the harbour. As eye doctors in Collingwood for over 55 years, our team at Collingwood Optometry and Cwood Eyecare hears stories like this from young families and retirees alike. That’s why we offer dry eye treatment designed to fit both your symptoms and your routine.
You may have dry eyes if you frequently experience burning, grittiness, redness, or if you have blurry vision that clears when you blink.
What Is Dry Eye?
Your tears are made up of layers of oil, water, and mucus that work together to keep your eyes lubricated. If one of these layers falls short, your eyes can start to feel dry and irritated.
In other cases, your eyes might simply not make enough tears to keep themselves lubricated.
Common Signs & Symptoms of Dry Eye
Signs You Can Feel
Many people first notice dry eye as a feeling. Common sensations include:
- Your eyes sting, burn, or feel gritty and scratchy.
- It feels like something is stuck in your eye, even when nothing is there.
- Your eyes feel heavy and tired by midday.
Signs You Can See
Other symptoms affect your eyes or your vision. These include:
- Red or itchy eyes
- Water eyes (this might seem strange, but it’s actually your body’s attempt to counteract dryness)
- Blurry vision that clears when you blink.
- Light sensitivity
- Your contact lenses contact lenses feeling uncomfortable to wear
What Can Lead to Dry Eye?
Daily Habits & Your Environment
Your routine and surroundings can play a big part in your symptoms. Here are a few everyday factors:
- Long hours on screens causes you to blink less, which means that you replenish your tear film less often
- Dry indoor air from heat or air conditioning can leave your eyes feeling parched.
- Wind, smoke, and pollution can irritate your eyes.
A ski day at Blue Mountain or a winter evening next to a forced-air vent can leave your eyes feeling drier than usual.
Health Conditions & Medications
Your health history matters too. Factors linked to dry eye include:
- Age and hormonal changes, such as menopause.
- Some antihistamines, antidepressants, and birth control pills.
- Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disease.
Bring a list of your medications to your appointment, so that your eye doctor can see the full picture.
How Can You Tell Dry Eye from Other Eye Issues?
Look-Alikes Such as Allergies & Eye Infections
Allergies and eye infections can cause redness, itching, and watering, all of which overlap with dry eye. While it can be difficult to distinguish the two conditions at home, your eye doctor has the tools to identify the cause of your discomfort.
What Happens If You Leave Dry Eye Alone?
If left unmanaged, dry eye can get worse over time. However, with the right care, you can feel more comfortable during your workday, your commute, and even outdoors.
How Eye Doctors in Collingwood Check & Treat Dry Eye
What to Expect at a Dry Eye Exam
Here’s what a relaxed, thorough dry eye exam can include:
- Questions about your symptoms, health, and medications.
- A check of the quality and amount of your tears.
- A look at your meibomian glands, the tiny glands in your eyelids that make the oil that your tears need.
At-Home Comfort Tips
Small changes at home can help ease your symptoms. We recommend the following:
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
- Run a humidifier, drink plenty of water, and wear wraparound sunglasses on windy days.
- Choose preservative-free artificial tears if you use drops often.
In-Office Treatment Options
When home care isn’t enough, your eye doctor may suggest one or more in-office options:
- Heat masks, eyelid care, and prescription eye drops.
- Punctal plugs, which are tiny plugs placed to slow tear drainage.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for your eyelid glands.
Your plan depends on what the exam shows and how your eyes feel day to day.
Book a Dry Eye Exam in Collingwood
Gritty, tired, or watery eyes can wear on you, especially after long screen days and during the dry winter months. If your symptoms persist or worsen, our teams at Collingwood Optometry at Cwood Eyecare can help you find out what’s behind your discomfort. Then we’ll recommend a management plan.
Book your visit with our eye doctors in Collingwood, and take the first step toward eyes that feel more comfortable, morning to night.
