If you live in Brooklyn, NY, and your eyes are perpetually dry, itchy, or scratchy, or if you deal with the feeling that something is scratching or poking at your eyes, you likely suffer from dry eyes. While this can be an annoying and sometimes even painful condition, there are things you can do. Talk to your eye doctor at Bay Ridge Family Eye Care about these possible solutions.
Eye Protection
For many people, exposing their eyes to the elements of harsh light, wind, and cold temperatures can cause their eyes to produce insufficient moisture or dry away tears before they can do their job of protecting the eyes. The simplest solution to this problem is to wear a protective eye covering like sunglasses or goggles. These accessories will block wind and harsh light and provide some very limited protection against cold temperatures. When you are indoors, take care to avoid standing or sitting in areas that are directly in the line of air conditioning or heat vents.
Eye Drops
If you continue to have issues with dry eyes after you utilize eye protection, it may be time to start using eye drops. Over-the-counter drops are a good way to provide moisture to your eyes just about anywhere. To prevent issues, try to keep a schedule of when you find yourself using eye drops most often, then pre-emptively use them about twenty minutes before that time. For example, if you know your eyes get dry after sitting at your desk for several hours, use the drops before you start to feel symptoms. Other people have found that eye drops are the most effective if they are used right before they go to sleep or as soon as they wake up in the morning.
Surgical Solutions
If these simple methods don't work, it may be time to talk to your eye doctor about a surgical solution. Surgery to unblock tear ducts or address other issues that may be affecting your eyes can be done relatively quickly and alleviate a lot of the problems you're experiencing. Your eye doctor will be able to determine if this is the right step for you.
Call Us Today
Eye care for dry eyes is important for residents of Brooklyn, NY. This condition is one of the most common complaints we hear at Bay Ridge Family Eye Care. We have years of experience helping our patients treat their dry eyes. Give us a call today at (718) 680-3270 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor.