Dry eye is a common eye condition affecting one in four people in the UK.

Do you suffer with any of the following symptoms or tried different management options with no significant improvement?

What are symptoms of dry eye?

• Feeling of burning, gritty or itchy eyes that gets worse during the day
• Soreness and red eyes
• Eyelids that stick together when you wake up
• Temporarily blurred vision which improves when you blink
• Excessive watery eyes
• Discomfort wearing contact lenses due to lack of moisture

What cause dry eyes?
Causes of dry eyes vary between patients but are often a consequence of environmental conditions. The most common causes include air conditioned or windy surroundings, spending long hours in front of a screen, long-term health issues, medicinal side effects, hormonal changes, ageing and pre-existing eye conditions.

Finding a solution for your dry eyes
In many cases dry eye tends to be a long-term condition, meaning that you may need ongoing treatment or a plan to tackle your symptoms depending on the causes. The optometrist will carry out a range or tests and ask questions to pin-point the causes.

• A detailed discussion of your symptoms, lifestyle and general health
• A microscopic examination of the front of your eyes and tear layer
• Tests to determine the nature and cause of your dry eyes
• Build a tailor-made management plan based on the severity

Treatment for your dry eyes
There are many different types of drops and gels that can help the eyes feel more comfortable. The best ones do not have any preservatives in them, or if they do they contain gentle preservatives, which helps to reduce irritation. Other very simple cleaning and eye lid hygiene will be demonstrated to help promote natural tear production.

Once a treatment is made for your dry eyes, we will arrange a follow-up visit to monitor progress and ensure you are happy with the results.