We often see patients at Olson Optical in Saint James with complications of itchy, red eyes that cause discomfort and blurry vision. This often due to dry eye syndrome. Patients suffer from dry eyes due to poor quality tears or not enough tears being produced. The good news is that there are treatments our optometrist can use to help ease the discomfort. At your next eye exam, we can provide a thorough assessment of your current eye health to understand what's causing your dry eyes and how we can help.

What Is Dry Eye?

Tears are made up of a combination of oil, water, and mucous. The oil keeps the water from evaporating, and the mucous helps spread the tears evenly over the eyes' surface. When the combination of these three elements aren't in proper proportion, the quality of the tears is considered poor. We also see cases of patients who cannot produce enough tears to keep their eyes lubricated.

Major Causes of Dry Eye

While there are numerous causes of dry eye, here are the most common ones, including:

Age - The majority of those over 65 don't produce enough tears. Women are particularly susceptible as their hormones change.

Medications - Many medications cause the eyes to dry. Among these are antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, and some anti-depressants.

Medical Issues - Many autoimmune disorders have dry eye as a symptom. Other medical causes include Rheumatoid Arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid disorders.

Environmental Stressors - Environments with a lot of dry air, high wind, or a great deal of smoke all contribute to dry eye.

Computer Use - Hours of staring at a screen without proper blinking or breaks can also lead to dry eyes, causing irritation.

Contact Our Optometry Team for Quality Eye Care in Saint James, MN

If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms related to dry eyes and have not been able to find comfort, contact Olson Optical and set up an appointment with our optometrist. Residents of Saint James have come to trust their optometry needs with our friendly, experienced staff. We are committed to providing the eye care you need for optimal eye and vision health. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.