Dryness is a hallmark symptom of dry eyes that can have serious effects on your quality of vision. In fact, dryness leads to a rough corneal surface, which scatters incoming light and can cause blurry or fluctuating vision. This contrasts with a healthy cornea, which creates a smooth optical.
When your blurry vision pairs with dryness, it’s time for a dry eye consultation.
Dry Eyes & Blurry Vision: The Connection
Blurry vision doesn’t just come from needing glasses or forgetting to clean your lenses. It can also happen when your eyes aren’t properly hydrated. This is where your tears play an important role.
More than helping you express intense emotions, a healthy tear film protects your eyes from irritants and debris, and keeps your eyes moist for comfort and clear vision. Your tear film is made up of three layers:
- The oil layer
- The water layer
- The mucus layer
Your cornea (the surface of your eye) relies on a stable tear film to help focus incoming light. When your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the quality of those tears is poor, the cornea becomes rough. Without a smooth and moist corneal surface, incoming light scatters as it enters the eye, creating that annoying blur.
Think of it this way: when a camera lens is dirty, the photos turn out fuzzy, right? Your tear film acts like a clean lens for your eye. When it’s disrupted because of dryness, the “focus” (your vision) suffers.
A Closer Look at Dry Eye
Millions of Americans experience dry eye.
More than pesky symptoms, dry eyes can make it harder to do things like read, work on the computer, and drive. While the condition may not sound severe, delaying dry eye treatment can lead to complications, putting your vision and overall eye health at risk.
Dry eye symptoms often appear together, and blurry vision is just one piece of the puzzle. Other telltale signs include:
- A stinging or burning sensation
- Red, watery, or irritated eyes
- A gritty or scratchy feeling, like there’s sand in your eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Eye fatigue or discomfort, especially with screens or reading
What Can Cause Dry Eye?
Dry eye occurs when there’s an imbalance in the tear film, which can be driven by several factors. Understanding the root cause of your symptoms can help you address and manage dry eyes, so you can experience lasting relief.
Here are the most common culprits:
Decreased Tear Production
Sometimes, your eyes don’t produce enough tears. This might happen because of:
- Aging (because, unfortunately, tear production doesn’t age like fine wine)
- Contact lens wear (we’re looking at you, all-day contact wearers)
- Certain medications, like antihistamines or antidepressants
- Medical conditions like Sjögren’s Syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis
Poor-Quality Tears
Tears aren’t just water; they’re a complex mix of oil, water, and mucus. If this balance is off, your tears can evaporate too quickly, leaving your eyes feeling dry and gritty.
Something as small (but significant) as a blockage in your meibomian glands (the glands that create the oil layer of your tears) can lead to poor-quality tears.
Environmental Factors
Spending time in dry, windy, or air-conditioned environments can evaporate your eye moisture quickly.
Not blinking enough during long hours of screen time (hello, Netflix marathons and office deadlines!) can also mean your eyes aren’t getting the lubrication they need.
Bring Back Clarity with Dry Eye Therapies
The good news is, there are plenty of ways to manage dry eyes and reclaim sharp vision! From simple at-home remedies to custom treatment plans from your eye doctor, here’s how you can bring your eyes some much-needed relief.
Hydrate Your Eyes
Plain and simple, drink more water!
Hydrating your body helps maintain your tear production. Along with drinking plenty of water (8-10 glasses daily), here are some simple ways you can help your eyes stay moist:
- Preservative-free Artificial Tears: These eye drops mimic the natural composition of tears, providing instant moisture to your eyes.
- Prescription Eye Drops: Medicated eye drops from your optometrist can tackle inflammation from dry eyes.
- Humidify Your Space: Dry air is no friend to your eyes. A humidifier in your home or office can keep the air (and your eyes) moisturized.
Warm Compress Masks
Using a warm compress mask is like giving your eyes a spa day. It loosens up blocked meibomian glands and encourages better oil production, which helps prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly.
Simply take the warm cloth and place it over your eyelids. Use your fingers to gently massage around the area to help stimulate and loosen any blockages along the oil glands.
Take Breaks from Screens
When you spend long hours staring at digital screens, you tend to blink less. Every blink distributes tears across your eyes, keeping them comfortable and moist.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a break. For every 20 minutes of screen time, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Your eyes deserve some time off, too!
Restore Your Vision
Dry eyes don’t just make your days uncomfortable; they can affect your vision and quality of life. The faster you seek help, the sooner you can enjoy clear, comfortable sight again.
If your symptoms persist despite these remedies, it’s time to visit your eye doctor. A dry eye consultation can help uncover the root cause of your dryness and determine the severity of your condition. This way, you can get a treatment plan that’s tailor-made for your eyes.
It’s time to give your eyes the care they deserve. Book a dry eye consultation with Bethany Eye Care today and say “goodbye” to dry!
