Enduring dry eyes is no easy process. The discomfort grows and grows and you end up with your fingers in your face, which we all know is not advised. See what else ophthalmologists (eye doctors) have to say about popular myths about dry eyes!
Myth 1: Dry eyes are common and never a cause for concern
Dry eyes are indeed a common condition which can be caused by air conditioners lowering the level of humidity in your room, or staring too much at a computer screen. However, if you experience dry eyes a lot, you should seek medical help to find out if you have an underlying condition. Persistent cases might mean side effects of certain drugs or possibly diseases that affect your tear production.
Myth 2: Dry air is the cause for chronic dry eye
Dry air is one of the many causes for chronic dry eye. However, there are non-environmental causes that include the long-term use of contact lenses, use of specific drugs, old age or other medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome (an autoimmune disease) or Vitamin A deficiency.
Myth 3: If my eyes are watery, I cannot be suffering from dry eyes.
This may not actually be true. When your eyes become dry, your body responds by releasing more moisture. This is called reflex tearing. However, the tears contain mostly water and does not work like normal tears which can act as a lubricant to coat the eyes’ surface. Reflex tearing only works to wash away dust or irritants from your eyes and is insufficient to restore the proper moisture level. So you could be tearing up but the dry eyes are still going to be there.
Myth 4: Chronic dry eye only means it’s caused by other issues
Chronic dry eye can point towards other problems but really, it stands on its own as a medical condition. Besides the many causes of dry eyes briefly covered in Myth 2, you should get someone to evaluate your dry eyes. This is because your eye doctor could check for metabolism issues or nocturnal lagophthalmos, where your eyelids don’t close fully while sleeping.
Myth 5: Eye drops are the only treatment for dry eyes
Though eye drops are normally the first solution for dry eyes, there are many alternatives to get rid of that discomfort. Using eye mist sprays moisturises dry eyes without even opening them. Finally, having a well-balanced diet including vitamin D and omega-3 oils could lessen such occurrences as well. There are some medical procedures that provide benefits as well.
Myth 6: Any type of eye drop helps chronic dry eye
For some, regular eye drops are able to treat dry eyes appropriately. But it’s important to know that not all eyedrops are the same. There are three main types of eye drops:
- artificial tears
- allergy eye drops
- anti-inflammatory eye drops
Some of the eye drops can have slightly different effects. For instance, eye drops with preservatives may not work well for some patients, so using one without would be more suitable for them.
Myth 7: In the long term, using eye drops can cause side effects
This is not true. Using eye drops should not cause side effects, even in the long term. Generally, the artificial tears that you can get over the counter at pharmacies are composed of similar minerals to your normal tears so it does not sting. They do contain some inactive ingredients to thicken the solution and increase its duration of effect, which do not produce side effects and hence can be used all the time.
Myth 8: Dry eyes cannot damage your vision
If left untreated, dry eyes can damage your vision or lead to infection. The tear film of your eye surrounds your eye’s surface is part of what is working in your eye for you to see clearly. If your tears are insufficient in quality or quantity, it may lead to poorer vision. If there is any problem with your vision, seek medical help immediately.
Myth 9: Dry eyes can be contagious
Dry eyes syndrome is not contagious unlike pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. You cannot contract dry eyes by looking someone else in the eye.
Myth 10: There are no medical procedures for a more “permanent” treatment.
As most common cases are mild, eye drops are sufficient for treating dry eyes. However, some medical procedures like intense pulsed light (IPL) and inserting punctal plugs can indeed have more extensive effects. IPL is able to improve dry eye symptoms by treating directly the meibomian glands responsible for maintaining the eye’s tear film. Punctal plugs can help post-eye surgery patients and those who wish to be less reliant on eye drops.
