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Dry eye syndrome can be characterized by a decrease in the amount of tears, which makes the eye a little drier than normal, in addition to redness in the eyes, irritation and the feeling that there is a foreign body in the eye such as a speck or small dust particles.
Increased sensitivity to sunlight is also a common feature in people who have this syndrome, which can appear at any stage of life, although it is more common after the age of 40, especially affecting people who work hours in front of the computer and that is why they tend to blink less.
The dry eye syndrome is curable, however for this it is necessary that the person follows the treatment indicated by the ophthalmologist, in addition to having some care during the day to prevent the symptoms from recurring.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
Dry eye symptoms arise mainly when there is a decrease in the amount of tear produced during the day, resulting in decreased lubrication of the eye and leading to the appearance of the following symptoms:
- Feeling of sand in the eyes;
- Red eyes;
- Heavy eyelids;
- Increased sensitivity to light;
- Blurry vision;
- Itching and burning eyes.
It is important for the person to see the ophthalmologist as soon as he / she notices the appearance of the symptoms related to the syndrome, because it is thus possible to identify the factor that is leading to the appearance of this alteration and, thus, it is possible to start the most appropriate treatment.
Main causes
The causes of the onset of dry eye syndrome include working in very dry places, with air conditioning or wind, using allergy or cold remedies or birth control pills that can have the side effect of decreasing the production of tears, wearing contact lenses or development of conjunctivitis or blepharitis, for example.
Another very common cause of dry eye is prolonged exposure to the sun and wind, which is very common when going to the beach and, therefore, it is important to wear sunglasses, with UVA and UVB filter to protect the eyes from the effects harmful to the sun and wind, which can worsen dry eyes.
Can dry eye arise in pregnancy?
The dry eye can appear in pregnancy, being a very frequent and normal symptom that happens due to the hormonal changes that the woman goes through during this phase. Usually, this symptom disappears after the baby is born, but to reduce the discomfort, the pregnant woman must use eye drops suitable for pregnancy, which should be indicated by the doctor.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for dry eye can be done at home with the use of artificial tears or eye drops, such as Hylo Comod or Refresh Advanced, or eye gel such as Hylo gel or Genteal gel, for example, which help to prevent dry eyes and reduce this discomfort, being important that its use is guided by the doctor.
Generally, the recommended dosage is 1 drop of eye drops in each eye, several times a day, as needed by the person, but it is important that the eye drops are indicated by the ophthalmologist to avoid complications due to the incorrect use of this medication. Learn more about the different types of eye drops and see how to use.
During treatment, one should avoid standing in front of the television or doing activities that reduce the amount of blinking, such as using the computer or cell phone without pauses. In addition, one should also avoid using allergy remedies without medical advice, as well as being in dry or smoky places for a long time. Putting cold compresses on the eyes before bedtime can also help to relieve this discomfort, because it helps to lubricate the eyes quickly, relieving the discomfort of dry eye syndrome. Check other precautions to avoid dry eye.