Blurry eyes are a relatively common condition that most people experience when they’re tired or after staring at a screen for too long. When you become accustomed to it, though, it becomes easier to ignore. If dry eyes cause the blur, this could be more dangerous than you think. We’ll look at why it’s so important to visit a doctor if you have symptoms.

Chronic Dry Eyes

Chronic dry eyes in Pittsburgh, PA, are a condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or your eyes don’t produce the right type of tears. Because the lubrication comes from both water and oil, you can still experience dry eyes even if your eyes water on a regular basis.

Dangers of Dry Eye

Dry eyes are by no means life-threatening and, on the list of possible medical problems, would rank relatively low on the list. However, if you’re not addressing dry eyes, it can lead to damage to the eye tissues. This is because, over time, the lack of tears can lead to a breakdown of the protective cells of the eye. If your eyes are extremely dry on a regular basis, it can even lead to a cornea scratch. The best way to treat dry eye is to find an optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA, with enough experience to find a long-term solution.

Eye Doctors in McMurray, PA

Lappen Eye Care, with locations in McMurray, Pittsburgh, and Greensburg, PA, has optometrists who can tell you more about how to treat your dry eyes. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to see because the sting in your eyes is so strong, it’s important not to wait. Making an appointment with us can help you learn more about what’s causing dry eyes so you can move ahead.

Your eyes may sometimes feel like one of the more mysterious organs in your body. Maybe they feel fine during the day, but as soon as you start your wind-down routine, they start to sting. If you can’t trace this cause back to a one-off event, such as an all-night binge session of your favorite show, we’ll look at why you might feel dry eyes in Pittsburgh, PA only at night.

The Body Is Slowing Down

Your dry eyes are likely reacting to the tear evaporation process that takes place throughout the day. This is a natural occurrence that everyone experiences, though not everyone will have a reaction to it. If your eyes feel dry if you wake in the middle of the night, it’s likely because the blood circulation slows down. The slower the blood, the fewer nutrients your eyes receive.

In rarer cases, you might have a condition that doesn’t allow your eyes to close while you’re asleep. Known as nocturnal lagophthalmos, it could be due to a chronic eyelid injury (e.g., after surgery) or because of a deformity with the eyelid. If you think that your eyelids are not closing properly, this is more serious than occasional stinging and more likely to result in an eye injury (due to the exposure.

Dry Eyes in Greensburg, PA

If you’re looking for relief from dry eye, either during the day or at night, contacting the right eye doctor can help. While eye drops from the drugstore can certainly bring comfort, you may need more than a quick fix. At Lappen Eye Care, our eye doctors in Pittsburgh, PA can help you figure out the source of your dry eye and how you can best combat that stinging sensation from morning to night.

Dry eye can happen at any time, but many people experience it most in the fall and winter, when the air turns dry and cold. If you’re one of those people who suffers from dry eye in the latter part of the year, your eye doctor in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area can help you.

At Lappen Eye Care, we help patients manage their dry eye first by identifying the cause of the problem, and then by making recommendations based on the diagnosis. Sometimes, dry eye can be resolved by making simple changes like the ones below.

1. Humidify your environment at home.

A dry environment can contribute to dry eyes. Humidifying your environment at home, especially the rooms where you spend the most time, can help. Use a humidifier in your bedroom, living room, or in other parts of the house where you regularly spend time.

2. Protect your eyes from glare and wind.

Glare on snow and harsh cold wind can contribute to dry eye. Wear sunglasses, particularly the wrap around kind, to protect your eyes on days when it’s cold, windy, or snowy.

3. Use over the counter eye drops.

Use over the counter eye drops to moisturize your eyes and relieve some of the most uncomfortable effects of dry eye. Over the counter eye drops are sold in pharmacies, convenience stores and grocery stores. If over the counter eye drops don’t help, then you may need to see the eye doctor.

4. Talk to your eye doctor.

If making the above changes to your eyes aren’t helping with your dry eye, then you may need dry eye treatment in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. Talk to your eye doctor at Lappen Eye Care to find out what else can be done to fix your problem.

When was the last time you visited an optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA? It’s important to schedule regular eye exams if you want to keep your eyes healthy and your vision in good condition. Dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions people complain about.

The Most Common Dry Eye FAQs
Here are the most common dry eye FAQs answered.

Does drinking water help dry eyes?
Yes, drinking more water will help you stay hydrated and maintain a healthy tear volume, which will reduce your dry eye symptoms.

Can dry eye ever be cured?
Unfortunately, dry eye is a chronic condition that doesn’t have a cure. However, if you have dry eye in Pittsburgh, PA, your optometrist can set up a customized treatment to help you manage the symptoms.

What causes dry eye?
Dry eye can be caused by a dry indoor environment, medication, poor blinking habits, contact lenses, and other environmental issues.

What vitamin deficiency causes dry eye?
Vitamin B12 helps your body make DNA and nerve cells. Therefore, a vitamin B12 deficiency contributes to dry eye and eye pain. Additionally, vitamin A can also help increase your tear production. Remember to always talk with your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA before taking any supplements for dry eye.

What happens if you don’t have your dry eye treated?
If you don’t have your dry eye treated, you have an increased chance of eye infection, inflammation, corneal surface abrasion, corneal ulcers, and vision loss.

Do You Need an Optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA?
If you are experiencing dry eye or any other type of eye condition, please Contact Lappen Eye Care today. We have state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and technology, along with an unparalleled team of eye doctors that can handle a wide range of eye issues to help keep you seeing clearly now and for many years to come.

For many, the workplace poses special problems as far as dry eye syndrome. Whether you already have dry eyes or you wish to proactively prevent this condition from developing, there are ways in which you can protect your eyes—and your vision—on the job. If you are at a higher risk for developing dry eye syndrome, it’s especially important to take one or more of the following steps.

Wear Blue Light Blocking Eyeglasses

The blue light emitted from electronic devices like computer screens has been proven to be damaging to the eyes. Your eye doctor in Pittsburgh, PA can provide prescription eyeglasses with built-in blue light blocking as a measure of protection against this risk factor for dry eye syndrome.

Use a Humidifier

Unfortunately, in most office work environments, you’re at the mercy of the temperature and humidity settings in the workplace. If the air happens to be dry, everyone must deal with it. But dry air can exacerbate dry eye syndrome, so consider bringing in your own humidifier for your personal space. It may at least add some moisture to the air around your work desk or cubicle.

Invest in a Blue Light Screen Filter

If you prefer not to wear blue light blocking eyeglasses, then consider investing in a blue light filter that fits over your computer screen. This is a physical device that just slips right over the screen and filters out blue light without any plugging in or hookups. Alternatively, there are some blue light filter apps you could install, although you may need to get your IT department’s permission to install 3rd-party software.

Blink

It’s hard to believe that you would need a reminder to blink, but studies show that when people look at screens they have a tendency to blink less. Blinking fewer times increases dryness of the eyes, so make a point of blinking several times each minute. Also, occasionally squeeze your eyes shut and hold so that moisture has a chance to form.

This condition is more than an inconvenience, and should be treated by a professional. If you think you have dry eye syndrome in Pittsburg, PA, contact us for an appointment.