Do your eyes hurt?

Whilst chatting to an acquaintance in the village the other day I got buttoned holed and asked. "Why do my eyes always hurt? They constantly seem to sting and water and I can't seem to stop them"

As usual there is no simple single answer. Those sort of symptoms can be caused by many problems but to outline the most common;

Blepharitis

This is an inflammation or infection of the lid margin. It leads to flakey or crusty deposits on the lid margins. This causes discomfort in it's own right but the deposits cause a compromise of the tear film. 

People with the following conditions are more likely to suffer from Blepharitis:

·      Dandruff or dry skin conditions

·      Dry Eye Syndrome

·      Skin conditions (e.g. seborrhoeic dermatitis or acne rosacea )

·      Down’s Syndrome

·      Bacterial infection

Signs and  Symptoms  

·      Crusts and debris

·      Itching

·      Dryness

·      Tearing

·      Red eyelid margins

·      Scaly skin

·      Discomfort on opening and closing eyelids

·      Irritation

·      Stinging, burning or foreign body sensations

Whilst blepharitis cannot be cured it can be controlled. Book an appointment for specialist advice on managing this uncomfortable condition.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

The Meibomian glands are responsible for secreting the important oily content into the tears.. Without it the tears just can't provide the lubrication needed to keep your eyes well wetted. If these glands get blocked it leads to Dry Eye Syndrome. There are various treatments for this which involve a gentle moist heat to loosen the blockages and free up the flow into the tear film. Our opticians will be able to advise you on exactly the right treatment.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry Eye can be caused by a variety of factors such as:

·      Ageing

·      Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)

·      Dry environment and pollution

·      Computer use

·      Contact lens wear

·      Hormonal changes (e.g. menopause)

·      General health problems or disease (e.g. arthritis)

·      LASIK surgery

·      Preservatives

·      Certain types of medications

Signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome include;

·      Dryness

·      Burning, stinging or itching

·      Gritty feeling

·      Irritation from wind or smoke

·      Blurred or smeary vision

·      Tired eyes

·      Red eyes

·      Excessive watering

·      Photophobia (sensitivity to light)

·      Contact lens discomfort

Strange but true that a symptom of dry eye can be watering! There are a number of therapies and drops that will help manage this painful condition. Sometimes a combination of therapies works best either way the best way of finding out how to alleviate the problem is by appointment with one of our opticians.