All You Need to Know About Dry Eye & Glaucoma
Dry eye and glaucoma are two different eye issues, which can occur together. Patients suffering from glaucoma have a higher chance of experiencing dry eye trouble.
Both these are chronic conditions and treating them at the same time is challenging. But the Chesapeake Eye Surgery Center can effectively manage and cure this problem.
Read this post to know what makes these conditions chronic and the possible treatments for the same.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a series of conditions, which damage the nerves in the eyes. It leads to vision loss and blindness if left untreated. Usually, this ailment occurs with the age but can happen to anyone.
You may experience Glaucoma in one eye or both eyes. It occurs when the pressure inside the eyes increases, but can happen otherwise as well.
Glaucoma Symptoms
The symptoms of Glaucoma are not noticeable at an early stage. When this issue reaches a complex level, the symptoms of glaucoma may develop, such as:
· Eye pain
· Red eyes
· Headaches
· Eye pressure
· Vomiting and nausea
· Tunnel vision
· Blurry vision
· Blind spots
· Witnessing rainbow-colored halos around lights
Any issue caused by Glaucoma is irreversible. Hence, it is necessary to identify it at an early stage and manage it.
What is Dry Eye?
The dry eye condition occurs when the eyes are unable to make enough tears. As a result, the eyes don’t stay moist for long, which causes discomfort, irritation, and inflammation of the eyes.
A dry eye can be either temporary or long-lasting, depending on the age and number of hours you use a computer or mobile.
Dry Eye Symptoms
A dry eye is irritating and makes it difficult to complete daily tasks, especially when you are suffering from chronic dry eyes.
The symptoms of dry eye are:
· Scratchy or irritating eye
· Burning or stinging feeling in the eyes
· Blurry vision
· Watery eyes
· Tired or sore eyes
· Sensitivity to light
· Redness of the eyes
· Low night vision
· Difficulty wearing or inserting contact lenses
· Feeling that something is present in the eyes
If there is discharge from your eyes, it could be a sign of infection.
Can Dry Eye and Glaucoma Occur Together?
It is common for glaucoma and dry eye to occur together. A lot of people suffer from Glaucoma in their 40s and 50s. The main reason for the occurrence of this problem is aging, using eye drops to treat glaucoma, which can cause dry eyes, and laser surgery for glaucoma which can result in dry eyes.
A dry eye is more painful than a glaucoma. But glaucoma can result in more severe results than dry eyes. Hence, the doctors first focus on treating glaucoma and then managing dry eyes.
Treatment for Glaucoma and Dry Eye
Usually, this condition is treated with a combination of treatments. Your eye specialist may recommend several treatments to find the combination that works best.
The common treatment procedures are:
· Artificial tears eye drops are used to moisturize the ocular surface and promote natural tear production. They are safe to use and available in the form of ointments and gels as well.
· Eyelid position corrector is another method used to evenly distribute the tears across the ocular surface of the eyes. It is effective for lax eyelids, floppy, or ectropion.
· Warm compresses and eyelid cleaning to reduce inflammation.
· Reducing tear evaporation using a humidifier and taking regular breaks while reading.
· Oral medications or doxycycline to treat eyelid inflammation.
· Lifitegrast and cyclosporine medication drop to suppress inflammation. The doctors also use mild steroids but patients with glaucoma must take steroids under a doctor’s supervision.
Both dry eye and glaucoma are chronic conditions. A combination of treatments can help to manage these situations well and keep the eye surface healthy. These conditions are not curable but manageable. If left untreated, they can result in severe eye infection, scarring, and even impaired vision. Hence, consult the Glaucoma treatment specialists in Virginia to get recognized for the symptoms of glaucoma and dry eye and seek necessary treatment.
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