Does Your Baby Need Glasses?

4 Dry Eyes Treatments Your Eye Doctor May Recommend

Are your eyes always dry and scratchy? Putting eye drops in, day in and day out is only a temporary solution and a way of putting a "band-aid" on the problem. If you want true and lasting relief, you are better off talking to your eye doctor about other treatment options. Some of the treatments they might recommend include the following.

Glare-Reducing Eye Glasses

A lot of cases of dry eye are due to the eye strain that comes with staring at a screen, day in and day out. In a perfect world, you could quit your day job and start doing something more active, but this is not a realistic plan. As an alternative, your eye doctor might recommend that you wear glare-reducing glasses, also known as computer glasses when you sit behind the screen. These glasses will reduce eye strain and therefore keep your eyes moist.

Punctal Plugs

If your eyes are dry because you're not producing enough tears, which is really common in people with autoimmune disorders and those who have had LASIK surgery, your eye doctor may recommend that you have punctal plugs inserted. These are tiny plugs, made of a silicon material, that your eye doctor can slip into your tear ducts. They slow down the rate at which your tear ducts reabsorb the tears from your cornea, so your eyes stay moister over time.

Tear-Stimulating Drugs

If mechanical interventions like punctal plugs and glasses do not help, your eye doctor may want to put you on a medication that stimulates tear production. These medications can often be taken orally, so you do not need to worry about the mess and inconvenience associated with putting drops in your eyes. If your dry eye is associated with an autoimmune condition or allergy-related inflammation, this approach can be really helpful. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Those who prefer an all-natural approach may want to try taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. These fatty acids help keep all of your tissues soft and lubricated, and many people do not get enough of them in their diet. Fish oil supplements and flax seed supplements are both high in omega-3s. You could also simply add more salmon, flax, and other high-omega-3 foods to your diet.

If you suffer from dry eyes, don't dismay. You can contact local services such as Southern  Colorado Eye Care Associates so you can know more about your options.


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