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Could You Be Suffering From Dry Eye Disease?
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- Written by: Premier Eyecare
COULD YOU BE SUFFERING FROM DRY EYE DISEASE?
There are many symptoms associated with dry eye disease, some of which may not make sense.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of drye eye disease:
- Watery Eyes
- Burning Sensation in the Eyes
- Red Eyes
- Blurred Vision
- Feeling the Need to Blink
- Contact Lens Discomfort
Let's first look at the complaint of watery eyes. Why would your eyes water if your eyes are dry? Your body is actually responding to the dryness by producing more tears. Unfortunately, the type of tear that we produce as a response to dryness is a watery, flushing tear. If you have ever had something get in your eye, you most likely had an immediate response of watering of the eye. This is our body's way of protecting the eye and flushing out any foreign body that is present. This tear does not lubricate the ocular surface very well.
The eyes may also burn with dry eye disease due to the lipid breakdown occuring at the ocular surface. The tears are an emulsification of aqueous, lipids, and mucin. When the lipids break down in the tears, it produces a soap-like substance which will cause a burning and redness of the eyes. Lipids are important in the tear layer because they slow down the evaporation of the tears. When lipids break down, the tears evaporate quickly and the ocular surface is exposed to the atmosphere leading to dehydration of the outer cells of the cornea.
The cornea (front surface of the eye) needs to be covered by a smooth, complete tear film in order to have clear vision. If the tear film is deficient, blurred vision can occur.
Our eyelids are protective barriers for the front surface of the eyes. Our eyelid muscles are the fastest moving muscles in our bodies. If something moves towards your eyes, your eyelids will close in milliseconds. The eyelids are also there to produce and release lipids into the tear film through the meibomian glands. These glands run vertically throughout the eyelids and can sometimes get infected or clogged leading to a stye. Keeping the eyelid margins clean are very important for eye health and comfort and may prevent or limit your chances of getting a stye. The eyelids also spread out the tear film with every blink. When the ocular surface begins to dry with tear evaporation, the eyelids will blink involuntarily. If your eyes feel dry, you will feel the need to blink to replinish the tear film.
Dry eye disease is the leading cause of contact lens dropout. There are many factors that can lead to discomfort with contact lens wear. Wearing your contact lenses too long during any given day, wearing them all day and all night, or failing to replace them at the recommended intervals, will contribute to discomfort and possibly lead to eye infections. If you have dry eye disease, contact lenses will make you more aware of your symptoms. Some contact lenses are better choices for those with mild to moderate dry eye disease. In more severe cases of dry eye, we recommend discontinuing contact lens wear at least until the disease is under control.
If you think you may have dry eye disease, you owe it to yourself to seek treatment from an eye doctor. Make sure you discuss your symptoms with your doctor during your eye examination. Dry eye disease is treatable, but is chronic and can get worse without proper treatment.
Confused About Where To Buy Sunglasses?
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- Written by: Premier Eyecare
If you have ever been overwhelmed with shopping for sunglasses, you are not alone. There are so many options ranging from a few dollars a pair to hundreds of dollars a pair. How can you know that you are getting a high quality pair of sunglasses at a fair price? You have many options where you can purchase sunglasses. These options range from internet, big box stores, and department stores to sunglasses shops and optical stores and offices. At Premier Eyecare, we serve our patients and customers with the best sunglasses and the trained staff to make sure your shopping experience is pleasant and not confusing. Our licensed opticians will help you choose a pair of sunglasses that will fit you correctly and also optimize your comfort and your vision. Premier Eyecare features the top brands of sunglasses in the industry. In fact, we have the largest selection of Maui Jim and Costa sunglasses in Knoxville!
If you are planning on shopping for sunglasses, make sure you give yourself the best shopping experience available. Our licensed opticians will show you around our brand new optical showroom and sunglasses center and take the time to listen to you. They will help you select the best frames and best lens options according to your individual needs. You may not even be aware that there are so many options of lenses, frame materials, and styles. Once you have selected your sunglasses, the licensed opticians at Premier Eyecare will make sure that they fit you properly and will discuss how to care for your sunglasses. They will make some adjustments to the frames to ensure a custom fit. In fact, when you buy your sunglasses at Premier Eyecare, you have a lifetime of free adjustments available to you at no charge!
To wrap it up, with so many options on the market in sunglasses, don't leave it to chance to find the best pair for your needs. Rely on Premier Eyecare to make sure you love your sunglasses!
