The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a routine eye check by an ophthalmologist by age Over age 40, you should get an eye exam every two to four years. An ophthalmologist can discern the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision, as well as spot other health problems that show up in your eyes, too. Bystanders can save lives in emergency situations. Learn how. So how can you tell which eye issues are no biggie and which ones indicate serious trouble?
Blurry vision The most common cause of blurry vision is inadequate lubrication of your eyeball. Burning or a gritty feeling A lack of sleep, smoke in the air , allergies or dry eye can sometimes cause a burning or gritty sensation in the eye. For this treatment to be effective, you must do it every single day for several weeks.
Eye redness Remember how allergies, smoke in the air and not sleeping enough can cause a burning sensation? Droopy eyelid As you get older, your eyelids will droop a bit from gravity and your eye tissues naturally getting loose, but this is a gradual process and not an emergency. Floaters accompanied by flashes of light Eye floaters are a fact of life.
Recommended for you. If any of these elements are compromised, it can affect the quality of your tear film and cause your tears to evaporate too quickly.
If either of these problems occur, dry eye symptoms will result. Dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition that can be hereditary or caused by hormonal changes, lifestyle habits, certain medications, LASIK surgery , or the natural aging process.
If DES is causing the gritty sensation you are experiencing, your eye doctor may recommend an artificial tears eye drop, gel, or ointment to increase the moisture in your eyes and alleviate your symptoms. Medicated eye drops that increase natural tear production may also be prescribed for moderate to severe dry eye symptoms.
For acute cases, a steroid eye drop may be prescribed in combination with a medicated eye drop to provide short-term relief of severe dry eyes. For chronic or severe dry eyes, your eye doctor may recommend a specialized in-office dry eye treatment.
There is a wide range of treatment procedures that have been proven effective in treating the underlying cause of dry, gritty eyes. Blepharitis generally develops when the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes become blocked. It is commonly caused by meibomian gland dysfunction MGD , but can also develop from a bacterial infection or skin condition such as dandruff of the scalp or rosacea.
Some people may even experience tearing, which may seem contradictory. Our tears are composed of water, oil and mucus. You need all three in order to have a proper tear. In some, it can become a vicious cycle. Dry eye can be from a deficiency of oil in the tear film or a deficiency of the watery component of tears. It also may be due to overexposure of the eye. Often the lower eyelid becomes lax with aging, which exposes the cornea and results in dry eye.
In severe cases of this, it may be medically necessary to tighten the lower lids. A stye is a small red lump that develops on the base of an eyelash or under the eyelid. Bacterial infections commonly cause styes. The meibomian glands help to produce tears that lubricate the surface of the eye.
If these glands cannot produce enough oil or become clogged, the eye can become irritated. Symptoms of meibomian gland dysfunction include :. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye , occurs when the conjunctiva of the eye becomes irritated. The conjunctiva is the clear tissue that covers the white of the eye. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include :. A corneal abrasion is a scratch or scrape on the surface of the cornea. The cornea is a transparent layer that covers the iris and pupil. Symptoms of corneal abrasion include :.
A corneal laceration is deeper than a corneal abrasion. Something hitting the cornea with extreme force can cause corneal lacerations.
A person with a corneal laceration should seek immediate medical attention. What causes crusty eyes or sticky eyes? A corneal ulcer, or keratitis , is an open sore that develops on the cornea. An eye infection usually causes a corneal ulcer.
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