Treatment of Dry Eyes

 For most people, the treatment of dry eyes is a straightforward process.  There are several home treatments that are effective in making your eyes feel more comfortable.  If home-based treatments are not effective, doctor-prescribed treatments are also available. 

 Once you’ve been diagnosed with dry eyes, artificial tears are usually the first step in treatment.  These eye drops lubricate the eye and help maintain moisture, increasing comfort and decreasing irritation.  There are many brands on the market and it may be necessary to try more than one before finding a formulation that works best.  If you find that you need to use eye drops frequently or that you have sensitive eyes, preservative-free or sensitive formulations may work better.  Eye drops can be used as much as necessary unless your eye doctor advises otherwise.

 Using a humidifier is another effective strategy.  Adding more humidity to the air increases the amount of moisture available for the eye to use.  Warm compresses can also help.  Some doctors recommend washing your eyelids with baby shampoo which can keep eyelid glands from clogging.  Avoiding smoking and smoke-filled rooms keeps eye irritation to a minimum.  The simple step of decreasing fan speeds and taking frequent breaks can make eyes more comfortable. 

 If you are still uncomfortable after trying these basic treatments, your eye doctor has other options that may help.  One of the most simple dry eye treatments is the insertion of punctal plugs.  These small, silicone plugs are placed painlessly in the tear ducts to prevent rapid draining, helping the eye to stay more moisturized.   Your doctor may also recommend omega-3 supplements, as these have been shown to impact tear formation.  Ask your doctor for a recommendation and correct dosage.  Steroids are an option as well, though they are not for long-term use.  Finally, Cyclosporine drops which have been shown in research studies to stimulate tear production, can be prescribed.  

 With these simple steps, dry eyes no longer have to be a hassle.  Lubricating drops, warm compresses, punctal plugs and prescriptions can all relieve the irritation and discomfort that dry eyes can cause. 

 To learn more, visit http://www.hillsboroeyeclinic.com or call (503) 640-3708 to make an appointment with one of our physicians.

Sources:

www.webmd.com

www.aao.org

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve associated with elevated pressure inside the eye. Increased eye pressure is just one risk factor for developing glaucoma in addition to family history, ethnicity, age, nearsightedness, and other factors. Many glaucoma patients (about 30%) have no history of increased eye pressure.

 There are no symptoms associated with the most common form of glaucoma in the United States, open angle glaucoma, until late in the course of the disease. When patients are diagnosed with open angle glaucoma and vision loss has already occurred, this vision loss is irreversible. To prevent vision loss, early detection of glaucoma is important.

 If you have a family history of glaucoma or have a history of being a “glaucoma suspect” based on elevated eye pressure or the appearance of the optic nerve it is important to be examined regularly by an ophthalmologist.  Your ophthalmologist can perform an automated visual field examination which maps out peripheral vision. Optic nerve imaging can also be performed to look for thinning in the nerve fiber layer which makes up the substance of the optic nerve.

 When glaucoma is detected early in the course of disease, the prognosis is good. The goal of glaucoma treatment is lowering intraocular pressure to a level that is deemed safe for an individual patient. The three methods of lowering intraocular pressure are 1) topical medications, 2) laser trabeculoplasty and 3) glaucoma surgery. Typically topical medications and laser trabeculoplasty are tried before surgery but patients with disease that is already advanced may have a better outcome with initial surgery.

 Narrow angle glaucoma is less common in the United States but more common in Asia and in Asian Americans. It almost always occurs in farsighted patients, those with a plus in front of their glasses prescription. In this disease, the front part of the eye is crowded and the drainage angle where fluid drains out of the eye is blocked. It can occur suddenly or gradually and cause chronic scarring of the drainage angle. If it occurs suddenly, you will experience redness, eye pain (often an ache over the brow), and loss of vision. To lower the eye pressure in these cases it is often necessary to make a hole in the iris using a laser. Cataract surgery may also be necessary in these cases. Some patients found during examination to be at risk of narrow angle glaucoma (also known as angle closure glaucoma) may benefit from a preventive laser treatment of the iris.

Welcome to Hillsboro Eye Clinic’s blog!  Within this regularly updated feature of my website, I will provide visitors with practice news and specials, as well as information regarding the most recent technological advances and new treatments in eye  care.

I believe that patient education and open communication with your doctor are the keys to achieving healthy, fully functional results and patient satisfaction, which is why I strive to provide the highest quality of eye care for patients of all ages.  This is done by combining technical skill and broad experience with cutting-edge technology for impeccable medical results.

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to visit my new blog.  Please check back often to learn about the latest news, updates and additions to the practice and within the field of Ophthalmology, and feel free to post comments and/or suggestions on any posts that you find of interest.