Dry Eye Disease

Why are my eyes so uncomfortable?

Dry Eye Syndrome refers to the breakdown in the quantity or quality of tears that moisten, cleanse and protect the eyes. Your tear film is very important because each blink helps to wash away dust and microorganisms as well as nourish and moisturize the cornea. Proper care of the tear film is important to maintain a lifetime of healthy vision!

Many patients do not realize that keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes!) is actually a medical condition that requires medical treatment. Whether it’s burning, itching, sandy feeling, gritty sensation, tired eyes, blurry vision, or any number of symptoms that patients will experience, you do not need to “settle” with life-long chronic uncomfortable eyes. Some patients will even stop wearing their contact lenses because they are uncomfortable due to dry eyes, which does not have to be the case. There are many different causes of dry eye and determining your specific cause will help your optometrist determine what is the best management program for your individual eyes. Most of the time, dry eyes cannot be “cured”. Instead, the focus is getting your eyes to a comfortable state and then maintaining that level over time.

If you are having trouble with dry eye symptoms, the doctors at Vision Source Mandan can help!