4 Common Retinal Disorders
Retinal disorders directly compromise your ability to see. Here are four to watch for, including what to do if you think they might be affecting you.
Can Over-the-Counter Eye Drops Treat Dry Eye?
Your skin serves as a protective barrier for your body, with a few notable exceptions. Your eyes, for example, get fully exposed to the outside world. To help buffer them against irritants, your body creates tears. Composed of oily, watery, and mucus-y components, your tears lubricate your eyes and offer an outer protective coating.
At least, that’s the case when your tears function the way they should. However, you may experience issues with tear production, leading to dry eyes.
If you regularly have dryness, stinging, light sensitivity, or itching, you could have this condition. Somewhat counterintuitively, watery eyes can also signal dry eyes as your eye produces more tears to try to overcome the dryness.
If any of this sounds familiar, come see Hilla Steinberg, MD, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. As an expert in dry eyes, she can help you find the best way to get relief. In some cases, that might be as simple as an over-the-counter (OTC) eye drop.
When can over-the-counter eye drops be used to treat dry eyes? Let’s take a closer look.
OTC drops for mild to moderate dry eye
The artificial tears in OTC eye drops can absolutely help to soothe dry eye symptoms, especially for people with mild to moderate dry eye.
Different types of drops are more effective for various kinds of dry eye. If you have aqueous-deficient dry eye — meaning your eyes don’t produce enough tears — look for the words “hypoosmolar” or “hypotonic” on the packaging.
If you have evaporative dry eye, your eyes produce plenty of tears, but the oily layer in them doesn’t function properly. That means the tears evaporate too quickly, leaving your eye dry. For this kind of dry eye, look for “oil” or “lipid” on the packaging. This will supplement the oily layer that your natural tears lack, providing you with longer-lasting relief.
Dr. Steinberg can help you determine the cause of your dry eye, allowing you to select the most suitable OTC eye drops for your condition.
If you need to use them a lot throughout the day, though, it’s probably time to explore other treatments.
Scaling up treatment for your dryness
If you’re reaching for your eye drops more than a few times a day, it’s time to figure out what’s behind your dry eye.
Come see Dr. Steinberg so she can evaluate your eyes. She can help you find a way to provide them with the lubrication they need without you constantly having to carry OTC eye drops.
Some of the options Dr. Steinberg can explore with you include:
- Prescription eye drops
- Punctal plugs, tiny silicone plugs that prevent your tears from draining as quickly
- Treatment, including surgery, for any underlying condition causing the dry eye
Dr. Steinberg’s goal is to help every patient with dry eye get long-lasting relief. You shouldn’t have to go through your day feeling uncomfortable.
To find the right treatment for your unique eyes, call our office or book an appointment online today.
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