Dry Eyes: Did You Know?

Dry Eyes: Did You Know?

Dry eye syndrome is a very common condition and accounts for 40% of visits to eye doctors. Dry eye can develop at any age, and eyes typically become a little drier every year as you get older. Symptoms of dry eye may go unnoticed or may be ignored by patients, so many patients with dry eye may not even be aware of their condition. Additionally, patients with certain medical conditions, or who take certain medications, can be predisposed to dry eyes.

Symptoms may include a scratchy or gritty feeling, a foreign body sensation, filminess, irritation, redness, watery eyes, blurred vision, and/or sore or stinging eyes. Patients may notice these symptoms worsen in dry or windy climates.

Some Medical Conditions that can cause dry eyes:

• Aging
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Collagen Vascilar Disease
• Sjogren’s Syndrome

Medications that can cause dry eyes:

• Antihistamines
• Antidepressants
• Sleeping Pills
• Birth Control Medications
• Acne Medications

The good news is that with the advanced technology and expertise that Dr. Manger has, even patients with the symptom are usually still good candidates for LASIK. The eye may become somewhat drier immediately following the procedure, but typically returns to normal levels once the eyes have fully healed. We recommend over-the-counter lubricating drops following LASIK until tear production returns to its normal, pre-LASIK level.