Dry Eye — Which drops do I use?

Dry eye is a common, serious condition affecting Australians.  It can be chronic or seasonal and Winter is the season dry eye sufferers struggle the most with vision and comfort.

Sometimes the signs are minimal but the discomfort is irritating.

So how do you know if you have dry eye syndrome?  If you experience any of these symptoms you probably have Dry Eyes.

• Burning
• Scratchy feeling
• Rubbing eyes
• Blurry vision
• General soreness
• Frequent blinking
• Tired eyes
• Watery eyes
• Film over the eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Sticky eyes
• Recurrent eye infections

The two main TYPES of dry eye are:

• 1. Lack of water component ( mostly related to systemic disease or prescribed medications)
• 2. Lack of oil component ( related to blocked glands on the upper and lower lids)

Other factors are:

• Preservatives from certain eye drops or medications
• Allergic eye
• Prolonged computer use
• Incorrect or outdated glasses prescription.
• Incorrect contact lens type

Our optometrists will carefully investigate your type of dry eye and prescribe the correct eye drop to target the problem.

If you have a “ lack of water “ dry eye then we recommend HYLO . This is a non preserved drop with a 6 month expiry from opening that will replace the lost tears to increase comfort and vision stability.

If you have a “lack of oil” dry eye then we recommend Nova Tears. This is also a non preserved bottle that replaces the oils in the tears and stops the water layer from being evaporated quickly.

Other tips to manage dry eye:

• Talk to your GP about medication
• Control your local environment e.g. home , office, car so air-conditioning is not too hot and blowing directly into your face
• Wear updated prescriptions for office and driving to avoid eyestrain which causes a reduction in blink rate
• Lid hygiene and warm compresses to restore oil flow from the lids (speak to our optometrists)
• Remove eye make up thoroughly to prevent gland blockages
• Dietary changes: increase food with essential fatty acids like oily fish e.g., salmon, mackeral , trout and sardines

So what’s the next step?  Visit our optometrists, Laura, Yasmina, Sue and Tracey for a bulk billed Dry Eye dry consultation.