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Winter Survival Tips for Dry Eyes

by | Feb 7, 2018 | Dry Eye, Education, Exam, Mark Moran, Medical Eye Care, Office, Patient Care, Referral

 

If you are one of the many people who suffer from dry eye, winter can be the worst of times.  Discomfort from dry eye goes up as the temperature goes down!

Dry winter weather can lead to dry eyes.

With cold, windy weather outside and dry heat inside, winter can be the most challenging season for patients with dry eye.

While we recommended that you come in to see Dr. Moran for a medical evaluation of your dry eye, there are some things that you can do to help improve your comfort during the dry winter months.

Winter Survival Tips for Dry Eye

Turn on the Humidfier

Turn on the Humidifier: Humidifiers improve air quality, making it more comfortable in your home or office.  Environmental factors can play a big role in the comfort of your eyes.  Adding a humidifier in your work or sleep areas can provide some relief.

Use Lubricating Eye Drops (Artificial Tears):  Lubricating eye drops provide instant relief for dry eyes.  They can be used as often as needed.  Using artificial tears not only improves the comfort of your eyes, it improves your vision as well.  Contact lens wearers should use these drops to make their lenses more comfortable. Supplementing your tear film is beneficial to the health of your eye.  Dr. Moran recommends using lubricating eye drops all year round!  Stay away from the drops that “get the red out!”  They contain vasoconstrictors that can cause long-term issues with your eyes.

Cold and flu medications can make your eyes even drier

 

 

Understand Medication Side Effects: If you are taking antihistamines to help combat a cold or flu, the medicine that dries up your sinuses, makes your eyes dry as well. When you pick up cold medicine at the pharmacy, make sure to pick up lubricating eye drops as well!

Drink Plenty of Fluids: Dehydration happens when your body does not have enough fluids.  Water is needed for  the proper functioning of your organs, including your eyes, to function properly.  For most people, eight 8oz glasses of water are recommended daily.  If you are dehydrated from medication or exercise, staying hydrated will keep you healthier from head to toe.

WASH YOUR HANDS!  Staying healthy will help you to avoid added eye issues. Not only will hand washing help against the spread of winter colds and flu, it will also help to protect you from the spread of eye infections, like pink eye.  If you are using drops, make sure your hands are clean before you put in your drops!

While our winter survival tips above will help make you more comfortable through the winter,  they won’t cure your dry eye.  There is no substitute for a medical eye exam when you are having problems with your eyes.  Don’t suffer, there are medications and procedures that can give you relief.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Moran to fully explore the options for dry eye treatment that are right for you.  Call or text us at 610-628-2022.

Click to read more about  Heat Therapy for Dry Eye

 

Early Detection is Essential for Glaucoma

by | Nov 24, 2017 | Appointment, Exam, Glaucoma, Medical Eye Care, Patient Care

Glaucoma is known as the “Silent Thief of Sight” because it can begin to rob you of your sight before you notice any symptoms.
Woman in the slit lamp

Regular exams are essential!

Regular eye exams are your best defense against the early detection and treatment of glaucoma.  At each visit, we will check your eye pressure, and Dr. Moran will look at the back of your eye to examine the health of the optic nerve.  These important tests can detect the start of glaucoma, and get you started on a simple treatment therapy that can save your sight.

Know if you are at risk.

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, people in these categories are at higher risk for developing glaucoma.

 Age 60 or Older:  Glaucoma is much more common among older people. You are six times more likely to get glaucoma if you are over 60 years old.

Family History:  The most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is hereditary. If members of your immediate family have glaucoma, you are four to nine times higher to develop this disease.

African Descent:  Glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians.

Hispanics in Older Age Groups:  Recent studies indicate that the risk for Hispanic populations is greater than those of predominantly European ancestry, and that the risk increases among Hispanics over age 60sisipisi.ccsisipisi.ccsisipisi.ccsisipisi.cc.

Asian Descent:  People of Japanese descent are at higher risk for glaucoma.

You may NOT notice a change in your vision until irreversible damage is done. 

Eye with glaucoma

Many people who are in the early stages of glaucoma are unaware of their condition.  When vision loss becomes noticeable, glaucoma may have caused irreversible damage.

If left untreated, glaucoma will lead to blindness. Although there is no cure, medications and surgery can help slow the disease’s progression.  Vision loss occurs because increased eye pressure from glaucoma can damage the optic nerve, which carries images from the eye to the brain.

Don’t delay.  Early detection and treatment is the best way to manage your condition. Dr. Moran may prescribe eye drops, which, when used daily, may be all that you need to keep your eyes healthy.  If prescription eye drops are not sufficient to control your glaucoma, laser treatment or surgery may be an option.

Monitoring your progress:   In addition to an eye exam, Dr. Moran may request additional tests.  Glaucoma patients are monitored using annual visual field and OCT tests.   Changes in your test results may indicate a need for an update in your treatment plan.

To learn more about this disease, visit the Glaucoma Research Foundation GRF.