While dry eye syndrome may not be life-altering, it can be a nagging problem that adversely affects your comfort and your vision. At Dr. Kevin Gunnerson’s office, he has a number of treatment options, allowing his patients in Moberly, Missouri, to maintain optimal hydration, nutrition, and protection for their eyes. If scratchy, dry eyes are causing you problems, call the office or schedule a visit using the online booking tool.
Your eyes rely on moisture to lubricate, nourish, and protect them at all times, and this moisture primarily comes from your tears. Your tears contain three ingredients and each plays a role:
If there’s an imbalance or deficit in any of these ingredients, it can cause dry eye syndrome, or dry eyes.
There are several reasons why you may experience dry eye syndrome, including:
Your eyelids contain glands that produce tears, and the function of these glands can deteriorate with age.
Your meibomian glands produce the oil in your tears, and when they become clogged, your tears aren’t getting the oil they need.
If your environment is windy or dry, your tears may evaporate too quickly. As well, if you spend too much time in front of a screen, you may not be blinking as much, which can cause excessive evaporation.
The most common causes of the problems above are most often tied back to:
If you have dry eyes, the first thing Dr. Gunnerson does is review your symptoms, your environment, and your medical history. Next, he performs an exam to check your glands and ducts, measure your tear volume, and determine the quality of your tears with special eye drops.
Once he pinpoints the problem, Dr. Gunnerson may recommend one or more of the following, depending on your diagnosis:
Thankfully, these treatments are very effective in alleviating the irritation of dry eyes, helping you see more clearly.
If you’re plagued by dry eyes, call Dr. Kevin Gunnerson, or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
