Is it Allergies or Dry Eye Syndrome? How to Tell and How to Treat

This time of year it can be hard to tell whether eye irritation and dryness is a result of fall ocular allergies or actual dry eye syndrome. While allergy symptoms can be relieved through many dry eye relief methods, treating the core issue is necessary for lasting relief so it is important to determine the root of your symptoms.

So how can you figure out which condition you’re suffering from in order to best approach treatment? Here are a few rules of thumb:

1. Perhaps the easiest way to determine the root of your symptoms is to consider when they occur. If your symptoms are seasonal, you can probably assume that allergies are to blame. If your symptoms are consistent or seem to fluctuate independently of weather patterns, however, you are likely confronting dry eye syndrome.

2. Look to your lids. If your lids are swollen and your symptoms occur in conjunction with nasal congestion, you are most likely suffering from allergies. Dry eye syndrome rarely manifests this way.

3. Is your vision blurry? If you are experiencing blurred vision, dry eye syndrome is very likely your culprit.

4. Do you eyes burn or itch? While allergies can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, burning is more common in patients with dry eye syndrome. Similarly, itching can occur whether you have allergies or dry eye syndrome, but is more common in allergy cases.

5. Still unsure? With dry eye syndrome, tear breakup time seems to be short, and you may experience bloodshot eyes. In addition, dry eye patients experience tear hyperosmolarity. Have your eye doctor check to see whether or not your osmolarity is normal to develop a clearer indication of what is causing your irritation.

Now what?
If it appears that allergies are your issue, talk to your doctor to consider medication options. If instead you are suffering from dry eye syndrome, realize there are many causes of dry eye syndrome. Blepharitis and MGD are key triggers. If this is your issue, consider an eyelid scrub to prevent clogging of the Meibomian glands along your eyelid. In addition, you may want to consider a lipsome spray. Ocusoft offers both eyelid cleansers, lidscrubs, and liposome sprays to promote proper eyelid hygiene.

Further, there are ways you can combat symptoms whether allergies or Blepharitis are at hand. Changes to your diet can be key as Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help stimulate tear production. MedOp’s Maxi Tears Dry Eye Formula works to relieve dry eyes with a blend of Omegas and vitamins. Tranquileyes goggles are an option as well. This product provides eye hydrating therapy to soothe and restore dry, tired eyes by creating a humid, warm environment which stimulates tear production and slow the evaporation of tears.

Getting in tune with the cause of your symptoms will help you gain control over them. For more dry eye treatments and general optical information, check us out on Facebook and Twitter, and see our Directory for product suggestions.

Could Dry Eye Be Making Your Migraines Worse?

While there isn’t sufficient research to prove a connection between dry eye and migraines, some studies suggest that the two may be related. Thinking logically, such a connection would make sense. We tend to react to dry eye symptoms by rubbing, itching, and squinting. All of these activities increase pressure around and behind the eyes, which in turn could aggravate headaches.

So what does the research say? A research study called “Dry Eyes and Migraines: Is There Really a Correlation” found that dry eye disease occurs more frequently in patients who experience migraine headaches than in non-migraine patients. Of course, correlation does not equal causation, but this research supports the hypothesis that migraine attacks may be worsened or set off by dry eye symptoms.

Dry eye symptoms alone are bothersome. If these symptoms are setting off migraine headaches too, they might seriously limit and affect day to day activities. So what can you do? Pinpointing the root of your dry eye symptoms is a good place to start. If your symptoms are seasonal, your dry eye may be a result of allergies, which proper treatment can control. Check out your pharmacy for options or consult your doctor. If you wear contact lenses, consider how your specific type of lenses may be contributing to your dry eye. Check out our article here to read more about how your choice of contact lenses and lens cleaning routine affects your symptoms. Often, however, dry eye has little to do with lens use or allergies. Many patients suffer from blepharitis, inflammation of the eyelid, which cause worrisome dry eye symptoms. Proper eyelid hygiene is the answer to this problem. Consider investing in eye drops, liposome sprays, and lid scrubs to combat your symptoms. Occusoft offers an impressive line of products that get to the root of your problem so you can find relief. Regardless of the root of your dry eye, EyeEco’s Tranquileyes product uses soft, flexible goggles to offer eye hydrating therapy. The goggles create a humid, warm environment that stimulates tear production and slows the evaporation of tears. By combating the root of your dry eye symptoms, and finding relief, you can prevent pressure build up behind the eyes that might be triggering your migraines.

For more dry eye information, check us out on facebook and twitter, and visit our directory for product suggestions.

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LASIK Patients: Remain on the Lookout for Dry Eye

Why Can LASIK Lead to Dry Eyes?

LASIK and other vision correction procedures involve penetration of the eye surface, which can lead to reduced corneal nerve sensitivity. Dry eye can result if your eyes struggle to sense when they need to produce tear lubrication after the surgery.

Who Is Most At Risk?

Dry eye is a common side effect of LASIK surgery for both people who suffer from the condition before the procedure and those who have never experienced dry eye. However, those with higher degrees of myopia tend to be more at risk for dry eye because these patients require a deeper removal of corneal tissue to reshape the eye. More significantly, for 25% of patients, dry eye symptoms are found to persist for up to six months after surgery. Older age, certain allergies, autoimmune diseases can also contribute to dry eye, so patients who fit these criteria should be extra aware of the potential dry eye side effects of these procedures.

So What Should You Do?

Doctors often recommend that patients attempt to treat current dry eye conditions before undergoing LASIK. In addition, doctors may recommend that even patients with normal tear production use dry eye treatments as a preventative measure before surgery. People with and without dry eye might be encouraged to take fish oil supplements in the weeks before surgery in order to improve the tear film. MedOp carries a product called MaxiTears containing Omega-3 fish oils that is specifically formulated for dry eye sufferers looking to improve their tear production. After surgery, patients might find relief by using EyeEco’s soft flexible goggles called Tranquileyes. The product comes with reusable gel packs to be used within the goggles that provide eye hydrating therapy to soothe and restore dry, tired eyes. The goggles create a humid, warm environment around the eyes to helps stimulate tear production and slow the evaporation of tears. Of course, dry eye relief may be found through a number of options. For ideas on how to combat dry eye, especially during these summer months, check out our blog "Beat Your Dry Eye This Summer". 

To learn more, check us out on facebook and twitter, and see our directory for product suggestions