Managing Dry Eye with Your Montpelier, St. Johnsbury, or Lancaster Optometrist Team
Anyone can experience dry eyes from time to time, but for some people, the issue can become chronic and disruptive to their daily lives. Our team, serving our community members in three locations (St. Johnsbury and Montpelier, Vermont as well as Lancaster, New Hampshire), relies on their clinical training, extensive experience, and state-of-the-art technology to help diagnose and treat dry eyes so that you or your loved one can start living with a little more clarity.
Causes of Dry Eye Seen By Our Lancaster, St. Johnsbury or Montpelier Optometrist
As the name implies, dry eyes happen when the surface of a person's eyes loses their normal amount of moisture and protective tear film. Symptoms can go beyond just dry, red, itchy eyes, and may include blurry vision, poor night vision, eye fatigue, light sensitivity (photophobia), a gritty sensation in the eye, and even watery or mucus-like discharge which may be your body's attempt to compensate for the lack of normal tear production (this discharge may dry and form a crust around your eyes overnight).
The exact cause of dry eyes will vary from person to person. Our dry eye doctor team perform comprehensive eye exams and patient history questionnaires to best determine the exact cause--which will guide our approach to treatment. Some of the most common causes of dry eyes include:
- Advancing age
- Medication side effects
- Excessive time spent reading, using the computer, or some other task which requires a lot of visual acuity and focus
- Environmental stimulus (smoke, chemicals, changes with the weather, air conditioning, indoor heat, etc.)
- Direct injury or inflammation of the ducts and glands near your eyes that produce tears
How Our Eye Doctor Team Can Help Relieve Your Dry Eyes
When you visit with a Lancaster, Montpelier, or St. Johnsbury optometrist at one of our three convenient locations, you can expect that our team will do our very best to both treat symptoms and resolve the underlying cause of your dry eyes. Depending on your specific needs, lifestyle, and health history, we may recommend any of the following treatments:
- Specialized eye drops, aka "artificial tears" to restore moisture to the surface of your eyes
- Topical or oral medications, including steroids and/or anti-inflammatory medications, to reduce swelling, pain, and irritation
- Lifestyle recommendations (e.g., installing a humidifier in your home, switching from contact lenses to eyeglasses, and/or adjusting your "screen time" habits with the computer or television) to prevent future dryness
Are You Frustrated By Dry Eyes? Visit Our St. Johnsbury, Lancaster, and Montpelier Optometrist Offices for help today!
To schedule an appointment with our Lancaster optometrist in New Hampshire, call 603-788-3561. To make an appointment at our Vermont locations, call our Montpelier optometrist at 802-223-7723 or our St. Johnsbury optometrist at 802-748-3536. We look forward to working with you!