woman with dry eye in front of a computer

Dry Eye Treatment in Wexford

Offering Lasting Relief For Dry, Itchy & Gritty Eyes

Tired of your eyes constantly watering?

Want to find a solution for your red, dry, itchy eyes?

Dry eye disease can seriously harm your quality of life. It can cause severe irritation and even infection in severe cases.

Symptoms of dry eye disease include:

Red, dry eyes
Itchiness in and around the eye
A gritty-feeling in the eye
Light sensitivity
Excessive watering of the eyes

Visit EyeCare Specialties Pediatric & Adult for effective and lasting dry eye relief.

How Dry Eye Disease Develops & How to Treat It

man with dry eye sneeze

Dry eye disease is an increasingly common eye condition that can happen either because the eye is not producing enough tears, or because tears are evaporating too quickly, leaving the eyes without enough moisture to function comfortably.

This can happen for several reasons including allergies, side effects from medications, hormonal changes, and illness.

Depending on the cause and exact symptoms of your dry eyes, our Wexford eye doctors will be able to prescribe treatments and medications aimed at increasing the amount of tears your eye produces and/or slowing the evaporation of tears to better hydrate your eyes.

What Are the Main Causes of Dry Eye?

Aging

Dry eye disease tends to affect people over the age of 50. This is because tear production slows as we age. As the lacrimal glands produce fewer tears, dry eye develops.
Hormonal changes

It's not uncommon for some women to experience dry eye symptoms during pregnancy, menopause, or while using birth control pills. That's because hormone imbalances can reduce tear production.
Autoimmune disease

Certain autoimmune diseases, like Sjögren’s syndrome, can cause white blood cells to attack your tear glands, thus reducing tear production. Other diseases like arthritis, lupus, and diabetes can also cause poor or insufficient tear production.
Medications

Certain medications can reduce mucus production (one of the 3 tear components) thus contributing to chronic dry eye.

They include antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, and beta-blockers.

Note that this is just a handful of causes. There are many other factors that can contribute to dry eye, including pollution and dry air, allergies, poor tear quality, dehydration, contact lens wear, and more.

Dry Eyes FAQs

Can I still wear contact lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

Yes, some people can still wear contact lenses with dry eye syndrome. However, depending on its severity, you may need to carefully select the adequate contact lens for optimal clarity and comfort.

Oftentimes, because contact lenses sit on the eye, it's difficult for vital oxygen to reach the eye. This can worsen dry eye symptoms, and increase the risk of scratching or otherwise damaging your eye. Make sure to ask your eye doctor which contact lenses are most adapted to your condition.

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome. There are, however, many treatment options that offer lasting dry eye relief.

Can dry eye syndrome cause blindness?

In rare extreme cases, dry eye syndrome can cause corneal ulcers. These ulcers can result in scarring on the eye, making it difficult for the cornea to focus light accurately. If left untreated, corneal ulcers and the associated scarring can result in blindness.

How can I prevent dry eye symptoms?

Below are a few tips that will help prevent dry eye symptoms:

Point fans, heaters, and air vents so that they don’t directly blow into your eyes
Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
Stay properly hydrated
Take breaks during long tasks, especially those that require extended visual focus

Patient Reviews

4.7

451 Reviews

- Apr. 12, 2024

It was immediate love at first sight! Not only did the elevator open to an enormous gorgeous space, ... Show Morebut I was greeted by a knowledgeable, welcoming team of Opticians at Eyecare. I arrived a little late after a difficult and stressful day, but they embraced me with open arms, and we got to work. This was my first visit so I had to complete some New Patient paperwork, however they helped me with completion so not to delay my time there. My evaluation with Nicole and Dr. Shuster was brief but quite thorough. It’s always a little nerve wracking when you’re meeting a new medical team, but They made me feel comfortable, listened and answered questions I had about my prescription and plan. Then came the fun part and my primary reason for scheduling with them! I was skeptical that they would not meet my expectations in terms of frame options, as I have been disappointed and looking for fun funky frames for over a year. Believe me when I say, I was pleasantly surprised! Suzanne who I had spoken with before my appt to confirm, listened to my preferences and had already set aside some frames for me to try. Then, despite me being there at the end of the night, Bailey and Cherie spent considerable time while I tried on as many frames as I could. Now, I’ll admit I am a tough critic and quite particular looking for specific shapes and dramatic colors. When you’ve worn glasses long enough, you know what you want. Well I may not have found what I thought I was looking for, but they opened my eyes to other options, and now I have to make a difficult decision on one or another, or maybe both! They offer a variety of high-end brands, but are reasonably priced, and they have some amazing bargains to take advantage of. Plus, they are open later, which is hard to find, and I am so thankful for, with my work schedule. They informed me that get new inventory pretty frequently which was music to my ears! Either way, I will be buying and will without a doubt be returning to work with this amazing team and selection of frames! I encourage all of you who have imperfect vision to go explore. I was referred by a very satisfied friend, and now I want to do the referring! If it’s your first time, they will guide you! I promise you will not regret it!