Dry Eye Treatment
Do you wake up with dry or red eyes?
Are your eyes burning, itchy, or gritty?
You might have dry eye syndrome.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome? (DES)
Dry eye syndrome (DES) occurs when tear production and drainage are not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are of poor quality. The result? Unpleasant symptoms, including itching, burning, redness, watery eyes, excessive tearing—and even eye pain.
Dry eyes can also increase your risk for more serious eye problems like corneal ulcers.
Dr. Harold Ashcraft can diagnose the cause of your dry eyes and provide long lasting soothing relief.
How to Know If You Have Dry Eye Syndrome
Do any of these symptoms seem familiar?
Dry Eye Reviews
How Do I Prevent Dry Eye Symptoms?
Suffering from dry eye disease not only diminishes your quality of life but also makes daily activities such as reading, doing sports, or driving, a real struggle. Get to the root of your dry eyes by contacting us for a full diagnosis and a treatment plan that’s right for you. In the meanwhile, here are a few things you can do to help temporarily relieve dry eye symptoms.
Why Do I Wake Up With Dry Eyes Every Morning?
Do you routinely wake up in the morning with red, dry, itchy-feeling eyes? There are a lot of reasons why this might happen. The most common reasons include:
- Nocturnal lagophthalmos- This is the inability to fully close the eyelids when sleeping. It’s thought to be caused primarily by the weakness of the seventh cranial nerve, also known as the facial nerve. This can happen as a result of an injury to the jaw or skull, or to the artery that supplies blood to the face. It can also happen as a result of Bell’s Palsy, a temporary weakness of the muscles of the face.
- Poor tear quality- Healthy tears contain three distinct layers to keep the eye properly hydrated: oil, water and mucus. The water directly hydrates the eye, while the oil slows evaporation, and the mucus helps spread the tears evenly across the eye. Unfortunately, sometimes a person’s tears don’t have enough of these components, causing the tears to either not hydrate or spread out properly, or causing them to evaporate too fast.
- Low tear production- Even if your tears have all the right components, if there aren’t enough of them, your eyes can be left feeling very dry. There are several reasons why your eye may not be producing enough tears, including age, medical history and side effects from medications.
If you’re tired of dealing with dry eyes every morning, come speak to our eye doctors today.
Want Relief From Dry Eye?
Request an appointment online or give us a call. We offer convenient hours so that you can choose a time that works well with your schedule.
Our Los Angeles dry eye treatment team is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye syndrome. Dr. Harold Ashcraft will assess the cause of your dry eyes, and find the perfect solution to address your specific needs.
From eye drops to in-office treatments, our optometrists have what it takes to make sure your eyes feel great. Pop on in and feel the difference for yourself!
Dry Eye Causes
Tears evaporate too quickly without an oil layer.
Women have dry eye syndrome more often.
Those over 50 are at increased risk.
Windy, dry environments can cause symptoms.
Medications, like antidepressants, can also cause dry eyes.
Some diseases may dry out your eyes.
Our Dry Eye Treatment Team
Have More Questions About Dry Eyes? | FAQ
Don’t wait for dry eye syndrome to worsen. Take action today by booking your appointment with Family Eyecare Center of Optometry in Westchester, Los Angeles.
