Why are my eyes so DRY?!

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This is a very common question that is heard by optometrists all across Alberta, especially during the winter season when furnaces blow dry air and the cold sucks all the moisture from the air. 

 

We live in a desert environment which only makes our dry eyes even drier.

We live in a desert environment which only makes our dry eyes even drier.

However, some people are more at risk for dry eye than others.  If dry eyes are not addressed in the early stages it may lead to generalized discomfort, intolerance to contact lenses, delayed healing time from ocular surgeries, and can lead to reduced vision and cause corneal scarring.

Patients at increased risk for dry eyes include contact lens wearers, computer users, diabetic patients, patients with allergies or asthma, patients taking medications such as hormone replacements or anti-depressants, post-surgery patients (including cataract surgery and LASIK), patients with arthritis or auto-immune diseases and even those who wear CPAP devices for sleep apnea.

Our optometrists can help you diagnose and manage dry eyes by assessing your tear film and eyelid margins including your tear glands.  We can recommend which type of eye drop would be most effective for you and ways to improve tear flow using warm compresses and vitamin supplements.  We can even recommend a prescription drop, Restasis, which can aid greatly in improving your symptoms.

Don't suffer alone in silence, we can help you manage your burning, itchy, water and uncomfortable eyes!

Visual Changes During Pregnancy

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Expectant mothers have often been told that their vision may change during pregnancy and that they should put off seeing their optometrist until after delivery. But nine months is a long time to go without seeing properly (and dangerous)!

In general, most women experience minimal to no visual symptoms throughout their pregnancy. Common minor vision changes include: dry eye symptoms, contact lens intolerance, difficulty focusing or reading for extended periods, or a change in one's eyeglass prescription. These prescription changes are usually the result of cornea edema (thickening) caused by normal fluid retention during pregnancy, and may reverse post pregnancy or can become permanent. Depending on the severity of your symptoms or vision changes, you may want to talk with your optometrist about treatment options or about updating your eyeglasses.  

More serious visual problems that should never be ignored include: blurred vision, halos around lights, headaches, neck pain, changes in colour perception, or distorted vision. Should you ever experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your optometrist as soon as possible and call your doctor. If you feel it is an emergency, then proceed directly to the hospital. These symptoms may be secondary to preeclampsia, which is a potentially serious condition caused by an elevation in blood pressure. These symptoms may also be related to a less serious medical condition called central serious chorioretinopathy, which is an inflammation of the central retina.

Special consideration should also be given to mothers with diabetes, as they require vision care throughout the duration of their pregnancy. It’s recommended that any mothers with diabetes receive a thorough dilated eye exam prior to conceiving as well as monthly to bi-monthly eye exams throughout the course of their pregnancy, depending on how well controlled her blood sugars are. These eye examinations are used to monitor visual fluctuations along with diabetic retinopathy.

Sherwood Park Diabetic Fair: Eye Screenings

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Sherwood Park Diabetic Fair

The Sherwood Park Diabetic Fair takes place on Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at Festival Place.

On Tuesday, May 1 between 9am-12pm, eye-bar optometrist, Dr. Ruby Mangat, will be on-site offering free eye screening with use of a retinal camera. This is a great way to learn more about how diabetes impacts your vision.

After your visit with Dr. Mangat, you can interact with other healthcare professionals to learn more about living with diabetes.

The Importance of Diabetic Eye Exams                          

Diabetes is on the rise in Canada and contributes to a large number of cases of vision loss and blindness each year.  Patients with Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes are equally at risk for developing diabetic eye disease problems such as: cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, blurry vision and retinopathy.

All patients with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, with the relative risk increasing over the life of the condition. Nearly half of all adults diagnosed with diabetes will show some stage of the disease within their lifetime. Elevated blood sugar levels or poor blood sugar control further increase this risk.

Approximately 10% of patients who develop diabetic retinopathy, will go on to develop proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a more serious form of the disease requiring aggressive treatment and management.

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