Red Eyes Vs. Dry Eyes: Similarities and Differences

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Itchy eyes, dry eyes, red eyes: these aren’t just names that you give to your peepers when they’re not feeling well. Because they’re so descriptive, it’s easy to get them confused, and that confusion can cause people to ignore symptoms until they reach a breaking point. We’ll look at the differences between the two and how you can use this information if you’re nervous about how your eyes are responding to different stimuli.

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes in Riverdale, NJ aren’t just defined by a lack of tears, they’re defined by the quality of tears too. So maybe your body isn’t producing tears at all, or maybe the tears that are being produced don’t have the oil they need to properly coat and hydrate the eye. If you have dry eyes, you’ll likely catch yourself rubbing them quite a lot or trying to blink through the blur.

Red Eyes

While red eyes may look more troublesome than dry eyes, thanks to the inflamed and enlarged blood vessels that are causing the color, they’re actually less of a problem than you might think. Red eyes are often caused by foreign substances, like allergens, which means that they clear up faster than a more chronic problem like dry eyes. Most of the time, you won’t need to consult a doctor if you have red eye, as long as it’s not accompanied by any other symptoms. If you have red eyes plus a headache, for instance, that could be cause for concern.

Find an Eye Doctor in Riverdale

An eye doctor in Riverdale, NJ won’t just diagnose the issue, they can tell you more about how to treat it. Unexplained red eyes may indicate that you’ve developed a new allergy to pollen in the air, while dry eyes may indicate a problem with the meibomian gland at the edge of your eyelid. You may need to take prescription eye drops or use dry eye masks as a way to open up clogged oil ducts. Whatever it happens to be, Riverdale Vision Care can help you determine what to do next. Schedule an appointment with us if you want to pinpoint the cause of the issue, so you can take action.

What Are Dry Eyes?

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Having dry eyes can be uncomfortable, which can cause problems with driving, reading and other activities. Treatments for this condition are available, but the exact treatment you’ll need depends on what is causing your eyes to be dry. Find out more about dry eyes, including what causes them and what you can do about this problem.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Dry eye symptoms typically occur in both eyes. In addition to a feeling of dryness, you might also have a stinging sensation in your eyes. Other symptoms include increased sensitivity to light, redness, trouble wearing contacts and feeling like you have grit in your eyes. In some cases, dryness can cause your eyes to become more watery than usual. This can happen when your body tries to ease irritation in your eyes.

Causes of Dry Eyes

You can have dry eyes if your tear glands don’t produce enough tears, which can happen due to aging, medical conditions or damage to these glands. Dry eyes can also occur if tears dry up too quickly. This can happen due to problems with your eyelids or when you’re exposed to smoky or windy conditions. Having poor tear quality from blocked glands or other causes can also result in dry eyes.

Treatment for Dry Eyes

When you have dry eyes, you can develop complications when this problem is left untreated. Seeking treatment also helps your eyes feel more comfortable again. Treatment options for dry eyes include managing the underlying cause of this condition, such as treating eyelid problems that cause tears to evaporate too quickly. If you have an underlying medical condition that causes dry eyes, managing this condition can help ease these symptoms.

Medications are also available for treating dry eyes. Some of these include medications that relieve inflammation and medications that stimulate increased tear production. Certain procedures can also address dry eyes, such as blocking tear ducts to stop tear loss or removing oil gland blockages. For some patients, wearing scleral contact lenses can help relieve dry eyes.

If you suffer from dry eyes, contact Riverdale Vision Care to set up an appointment.