Conditions such as dry eye can occur temporarily or may become a chronic issue for some patients. Wilmington, NC area doctor, Dr. Brian Groat, encourages patients to speak to their eye doctor about this and other concerns. Our team at Cape Fear Cataract and Cornea can educate individuals on the ways in which they can improve hydration in the eye and reduce the symptoms of this bothersome condition. Below are a few recommendations to help patients manage dry eye either temporarily or for long-term benefits:
- Avoid touching your eyes. If you have not just washed your hands, it’s a good idea to avoid touching your eyes. This is because touching the eyes can introduce bacteria that can exacerbate symptoms of dry eye. This is especially true if you use contact lenses.
- Avoid inflammatory foods. Some foods cause inflammation that can make the symptoms of dry eye worse. Many patients can have a food allergy test done to check for sensitivities that they may not be aware of. These foods can then be eliminated from the diet to determine if it improves symptoms.
- Eliminate allergens. Knowing what you are allergic to, and avoiding it, can relieve symptoms of dry eye, and even address nasal congestion and other side effects of allergies. Allergies may be household allergies, such as pets and dust mites, or outside allergies, including seasonal hay fever.
- Avoid wearing eye makeup. Cosmetics can sometimes make dry eye worse, especially when tiny particles of makeup enter into the eye. Additionally, many applicators, including brushes and sponges, can harbor bacteria if they are constantly reused and not cleaned properly between uses.
- Avoid contact lenses. Contact lenses have a tendency to make dry eye conditions worse, and during spells when the condition is troublesome, patients should instead wear prescription eyeglasses and avoid contact use until their condition it better maintained.
- Use eye drops. There are many artificial tear drops available over-the-counter to use throughout the day to keep the eyes moist and reduce redness and irritation that can occur.
Learn more about dry eye
If you are dealing with constantly dry eyes, it may be time to schedule an appointment with the team at Cape Fear Cataract and Cornea in Wilmington, NC. The office is located at 1915 South 17th Street, Ste. #101 and appointments can be made by calling Dr. Brian Groat’s practice at (910) 769-4590.
