Why do my eyes feel gritty? Why do my eyes water? Why are my eyes red and irritated?
If your eyes are red, it's important to find out why your eyes are red. Eyes can be red because of something straight-forward or because of something more serious. Very commonly, however, eyes are red and irritated secondary to dryness. Two main types of 'dry eye' exist. One is related to overall tear production, the other is related to the rate the tears evaporate off of the front surface of the eye. Different treatments, even different types of artificial tear drops, are more effective depending on the type of dry eye a patient is experiencing. Artificial tear eye drops are frequently used as an effective first treatment for dry eye syndrome. They are simple to use, they are safe, and they usually work well! Sometimes, more intricate steps and treatment need to be implemented to keep the ocular surface healthy and to keep the patient comfortable. These steps may include prescription eye drops, supplements, or reducing the amount of tears draining out with 'punctal plugs'. Dr. Dold assesses dry eyes and the type of dry eyes to determine the most appropriate treatment. Dry eye is a chronic condition. A patient with dry eyes will likely not have to use all of the treatment indefinitely, but will always have to use a form of dry eye treatment.