Eye Doctor Connecticut - Renowned Eye Surgeon in Connecticut

If you experience redness, pain, itching, burning or a sandy dry feeling in your eyes, chances are you are suffering from a condition referred to as dry eye. Other symptoms can include watering and tearing, as well as blurred vision often corrected by blinking. Dry eye is a common issue for those who are not able to produce enough tears to keep their eyes well-lubricated.

The purpose of tears is to help keep your eyes moistened and healthy. They are essential to help protect your eyes from foreign objects and to help debris from entering your eyes; also tears contain your body’s primary defense mechanism against surface eye infections. However, tears production is sometimes inadequate. Dry eyes can be caused by a number of factors, including dry air in the environment around you, such as an exceptionally dry room with no moisture. Medications can also be to blame, causing you to not be able to produce enough tears. Disease and the inability to blink can also cause dry eye symptoms. On average, as we age tear production decreases by 60% from age 16 to age 60. In women the problem is further compounded by hormone changes through menopause. In fact, the group who has the worst problem with ocular dryness is post-menopausal women.

There are a number of options that are available if you suffer from chronic dry eye. Dry eye cannot be cured, but there are some medical solutions to help ease the symptoms. Many find relief in over-the-counter eye drops which can be used continuously to keep dry eyes from becoming problematic. However there can be significant problems associated with generic drug store eye drops related to the preservatives in the drops. Also any drop promoted to “get the red out” is potentially seriously hazardous because of the chemicals they contain which interact with the eye’s blood vessels possibly causing permanent damage. Some steroid medications can help with dry eye, as can Restasis, which is a prescription eye drops. Dr. Gold recommends Restasis drops for chronic dry eye, which is approved by the FDA. More aggressive options to relieve chronic dry eye include temporary and permanent punctal occlusion and surgery to close the tear ducts that drain tears. Most surgical options are covered by health insurance plans.

Remember, you don't have to suffer from dry eye--there are medical options available for you to stop the pain and discomfort. Your vision is important, and it is essential that you take care of your eyesight. Contact Dr. Gold today for a consultation to determine what solutions are best for you and your chronic dry eye problems.

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