"How do I know if I have dry eyes...?" 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this awesome Inspirational Monday about dry eyes, a common ailment and what to do to fix the condition, so save a visit to the Opthamologist and read Judy's free advise to dakinetalk readers!  Judy lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the medical profession for over 30 years.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE DRY EYES

DRY eyes are one of the most common eye ailments among the general population. They can cause many symptoms that are annoying to people and will go untreated because the symptoms can give a mixed message to many.

Believe it or not, many peoples’ eyes water constantly which is a common symptom of dry eye. Eyes will water as a response to dryness and irritation. Their tears are not made of good quality and are called reflux tearing. They lack the oily mixture needed to replenish the cornea. There are many ways to treat dry eye starting with tears in a bottle which will re wet the cornea. There are also tear ointments and tear gels that can be used, although they will tend to blur the vision. In extreme cases there is a product on the market called Restasis which when used regularly will restore the balance of the tear film and help the body produce better quality tears. They are a prescription drop and are not used in the same way that a natural tear formula is; they are not meant to replace an over the counter drop that just serves to moisten the eyes. Also each eye has 2 tear ducts called the punctum, that can be plugged both temporarily or permanently in a few minutes in a simple office procedure; that will help keep the tears in the eye and prevent them from going down the drain. In severe cases when someone has a dry mouth and dry skin etc. they may have a condition called Sjogrens Syndrome that is an extreme case of dryness. This is also treated with moisture tears and possibly prescription drops.

A dry eye and dry cornea can cause blurry vision and set up the eye to become more susceptible to eye infections. An eye that is constantly dry can cause permanent damage to the cornea as well.

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.