Understanding Dry Eyes: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

Reed Family Vision

Learn more about dry eyes.

In today's digital age, more and more people are experiencing the discomfort of dry eyes. Whether from spending long hours in front of screens or living in dry climates, the symptoms can be bothersome and affect your daily life. At Reed Family Vision, we understand the impact of dry eyes and are here to provide insights into its causes, symptoms, and practical solutions.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes occur when your eyes don't produce enough tears or when the quality of your tears is poor. Several factors can contribute to this condition, including:

1. Extended Screen Time: Staring at digital screens for prolonged periods can reduce blink rates and lead to insufficient tear production.

2. Environmental Factors: Dry climates, windy conditions, and indoor heating or air conditioning can all contribute to the evaporation of tears, resulting in dry eyes.

3. Age:* Tear production tends to decrease as we age, making older adults more prone to dry eyes.

4. Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, allergies, and hormonal changes, can affect tear production and quality.

5. Medications: Some medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants, can cause dry eyes as a side effect.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Identifying the symptoms of dry eyes is crucial for seeking timely treatment. Common signs of dry eyes include:

  • Persistent dryness, itching, or burning sensation in the eyes

  • Excessive tearing as a reflex response to dryness

  • Blurred vision or sensitivity to light

  • Redness or inflammation of the eyes

  • Feeling like there's something in your eye

Effective Solutions for Dry Eyes

Fortunately, there are several solutions available to alleviate the discomfort of dry eyes and improve overall eye health:

  • Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter artificial tear drops can temporarily relieve the eyes by lubricating and restoring moisture.

  • Lifestyle Changes: Take regular breaks from digital screens, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, and avoid exposure to dry or windy conditions.

  • Eyelid Hygiene: Practicing good eyelid hygiene, such as gently cleaning and avoiding rubbing your eyes, can help prevent tear evaporation.

  • Prescription Medications: In chronic dry eyes, your eye care provider may prescribe medicated eye drops or ointments to manage symptoms and improve tear production.

Advanced Treatments: For severe cases, advanced treatments like punctal plugs, which block tear drainage to keep the eyes moist, or intense pulsed light therapy, which can improve tear gland function, may be recommended.

Visit Reed Family Vision for Personalized Care

At Reed Family Vision, we prioritize your eye health and well-being. If you're experiencing symptoms of dry eyes or have concerns about your eye health, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with our experienced optometrists. We'll work with you to diagnose the underlying cause of your dry eyes and recommend personalized treatment options to help you achieve lasting relief and optimal eye health. Don't let dry eyes interfere with your daily life – contact Reed Family Vision today for compassionate care and expert guidance.

Protecting your eyes at work

Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that about 2,000 U.S. workers daily sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment. However, safety experts and eye doctors believe the right eye protection can lessen the severity or even prevent 90% of these eye injuries.

Chemicals or foreign objects in the eye and scratches on the cornea are common eye injuries that occur at work. Other common eye injuries come from fluids splashed in the eye, burns from steam, and exposure to ultraviolet or infrared radiation.

In addition, healthcare workers, laboratory and janitorial staff, and other workers may be at risk of acquiring infectious diseases from eye exposure. Some infectious diseases can be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the eye. This can occur through direct contact with splashes of blood, respiratory droplets generated during coughing, or from touching the eyes with contaminated fingers or other objects.

Workers experience eye injuries on the job for two major reasons:

  1. They were not wearing proper eye protection.

  2. They were wearing the wrong kind of protection for the job.

A Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of workers who suffered eye injuries revealed that nearly three out of five were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident. These workers often reported that they believed protection was not required for the situation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workers to use eye and face protection whenever there is a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment. Personal protective eyewear, such as goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full-face respirators, must be used when an eye hazard exists. The necessary eye protection depends upon the type of hazard, exposure circumstances, other protective equipment used, and individual vision needs.

What are the potential eye hazards at work?

Workplace eye protection is needed when the following potential eye hazards are present:

  • Projectiles (dust, concrete, metal, wood, and other particles).

  • Chemicals (splashes and fumes).

  • Radiation (especially visible light, ultraviolet radiation, heat or infrared radiation, and lasers).

  • Bloodborne pathogens (hepatitis or HIV) from blood and body fluids.

Some working conditions include multiple eye hazards. The proper eye protection takes all hazards into account.

Computer Vision Syndrome, also called Digital Eye Strain, describes a group of eye and vision-related problems resulting from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use. The average American worker spends seven hours a day on the computer either in the office or working from home.

March is Save Your Vision Month and the American Optometric Association is working to educate both employers and employees about how to avoid digital eye strain in the workplace. To help alleviate digital eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule; take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.

Occupations with a high risk for eye injuries include:

  • Construction.

  • Manufacturing.

  • Mining.

  • Carpentry.

  • Auto repair.

  • Electrical work.

  • Plumbing.

  • Welding.

  • Maintenance.

The type of safety eye protection you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace:

  • If you are working in an area that has particles, flying objects or dust, you must at least wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields).

  • If you are working with chemicals, you must wear goggles.

  • If you are working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers or fiber optics) you must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets designed for that task.

Know the requirements for your work environment. Side shields placed on your conventional (dress) glasses do not provide enough protection to meet the OSHA requirement for many work environments.

In addition, employers need to take steps to make the work environment as safe as possible. This includes:

  • Conducting an eye hazard assessment of the workplace

  • Removing or reducing eye hazards where possible

  • Providing appropriate safety eyewear and requiring employees to wear it

Your doctor of optometry can assist your employer and you in evaluating potential eye hazards in your workplace and determining what type of eye protection may be needed.

How can I protect my eyes from injury?

There are four things you can do to protect your eyes from injury:

  1. Know the eye safety dangers at your work.

  2. Eliminate hazards before starting work by using machine guards, work screens or other engineering controls.

  3. Use proper eye protection.

  4. Keep your safety eyewear in good condition and replace it if damaged.

The selection of protective eyewear appropriate for a given task should be made based on a hazard assessment of each activity. Types of eye protection include:

  • Nonprescription and prescription safety glasses. Although safety glasses may look like normal dress eyewear, they are designed to provide significantly more eye protection. The lenses and frames are much stronger than regular eyeglasses. Safety glasses must meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Look for the Z87 mark on the lens or frame.

    Safety glasses provide eye protection for general working conditions where there may be dust, chips or flying particles. Side shields and wraparound-style safety glasses can provide additional side protection.

    Safety lenses are available in plastic, polycarbonate, and Trivex™ materials. While all four types must meet or exceed the minimum requirements for protecting your eyes, polycarbonate lenses provide the highest protection from impact.

  • Goggles. Goggles protect against impact, dust, and chemical splash. Like safety glasses, safety goggles are highly impact-resistant. In addition, they provide a secure shield around the entire eye and protect against hazards coming from any direction. Goggles can be worn over prescription glasses and contact lenses.

  • Face shields and helmets. Full-face shields protect workers exposed to chemicals, heat or blood-borne pathogens. Helmets are used for welding or working with molten materials. Face shields and helmets should not be the only protective eyewear. They must be used with safety glasses or goggles to protect the eyes when the shield is lifted.

  • Special protection. Helmets or goggles with special filters to protect the eyes from optical radiation exposure should be used for welding or working with lasers.

Safety glasses must fit properly to provide adequate protection. Also, eye protection devices must be properly maintained. Scratched and dirty devices reduce vision, cause glare, and may contribute to accidents.

Combined with machine guards, screened or divided workstations, and other engineering controls, using the correct protective eyewear can help keep you safe from any eye hazard.

What should be done in an eye emergency?

Seek medical attention as soon as possible following an injury, particularly if you have pain in the eye, blurred vision or loss of any vision. Several simple first-aid steps can and should be taken until medical assistance is obtained.

First aid for chemicals in the eye:

  • Immediately flush the eye with water for at least 15 minutes. Place the eye under a faucet or shower, use a garden hose, or pour water into the eye from a clean container.

  • If you are wearing contact lenses, immediately remove them before flushing the eye.

  • Do not try to neutralize the chemical with other substances.

  • Do not bandage the eye.

  • Seek immediate medical attention after flushing.

First aid for particles in the eye:

  • Do not rub the eye.

  • Try to let your tears wash the speck out, or irrigate the eye with an artificial tear solution.

  • Try lifting the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower eyelid to remove the particle.

  • If the particle does not wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage it lightly and seek medical care.

    Some particles, particularly metallic ones, can cause rusting spots on the eye if left untreated for several days. Do not delay medical care if you are unsure if the object is gone.

First aid for blows to the eye:

  • Gently apply a cold compress without putting pressure on the eye. Crushed ice in a plastic bag can be placed gently on the injured eye to reduce pain and swelling.

  • In cases of severe pain or reduced vision, seek immediate medical care.

First aid for cuts and punctures to the eye or eyelid:

  • Do not wash out the eye.

  • Do not attempt to remove an object that is stuck in the eye.

  • Cover the eye with a rigid shield, like the bottom half of a paper cup.

  • Seek immediate medical care.

Information provided by the American Optometric Association-www.aoa.org


School performance and your child's vision

Students in a classroom, eye exams are so important.

How do you know if your child or students can see the whiteboard during class?

Poor vision can directly impact a child’s ability to learn as 80% of learning is visual and happens through the eyes.1 Since a child’s eyesight is essential to their learning, and good ocular health should be prioritized. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is increasing in the U.S., especially among school-aged children In the U.S., 40 percent of kids have myopia, compared to just 20 percent three decades ago, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Here are things to look for to see if a child has an undetected vision problem that can impact their ability to learn:

  • Chronic inattention

  • Increased fidgeting

  • Problems with organization

  • Reading difficulties, including comprehension

  • Disinterest in school and activities previously enjoyed

  • Poor spelling

  • Frequently squinting or rubbing the eyes

  • Moving closer to the blackboard

There are indicators that both parents and teachers can look for as signals that a child is experiencing vision problems. Educators and families can work together to ensure students see and learn as seamlessly as possible.

So, how do you address your child or students’ ocular health?

Know the signs

It’s important to remember that a child may not tell you that he or she has a vision problem because they may think the way they see is the way everyone sees.4

Some signs that may indicate a child has a vision problem include: 

  • Complaints of discomfort and fatigue

  • Frequent eye rubbing

  • Frequent blinking

  • Short attention span

  • Constant squinting or grimacing when reading or focusing

  • Avoiding reading and other close activities

  • Frequent headaches

  • Covering one eye

  • Tilting head forward or backward when looking at distant objects

  • Sitting close to the blackboard

  • Holding books closer when reading

  • Excessive clumsiness, diminished coordination

  • Poor penmanship

  • Difficulty remembering what he or she read

Children may say things like6: 

  • “The whiteboard is blurry I can’t see it” or “Can I move closer to the front of the class”

  • “My eyes are itchy,” “my eyes are burning” or “my eyes feel scratchy.”

  • After doing close-up work: “I feel dizzy,” “I have a headache” or “I feel sick.” “Everything looks blurry,” or “I see double.”

If your child is not focusing well and they are easily distracted, perhaps your child’s poor attention span may be due to a vision problem. Myopia and other vision problems cause some of the same signs attributed to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).7  A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that children with vision problems are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.8

What you can do

Listen to your child.

The first and easiest step you can take is to listen to your kids. Kids aren’t always organized, and those with heightened emotions are even less so. It’s hard for a child to wait until an opportune time to raise an important issue or disclose vital information about what is troubling them—they may let important information slip out at the moment you expect it least.

Make time for eye exams—not only vision screenings.

Children should have their eyes examined by an eye care professional—an optometrist or ophthalmologist—at 6 months of age, at three years old, and before school starts.9 [Read more: When should my child get their first eye exam?] It’s important to note that a vision screening, sometimes administered at school, is not the same as a comprehensive exam. Even if a child passes a vision screening, they should receive a comprehensive optometric examination.10 If your child is diagnosed with myopia, conventional glasses, and contact lenses can help them see more clearly, but they do not slow the progression of myopia. You may want to discuss strategies to slow progression with your eye care professional. [Read more: Myopia myths vs. facts – what you need to know about your child’s nearsightedness]

Encourage time outdoors

Some studies have shown that the increase in time spent on digital devices can negatively impact ocular health11, whereas exposure to natural sunlight and spending time outdoors—especially in early childhood—can decrease the risk of new myopia and slow the progression of myopia.12, 13 [Read more: Can too much screen time hurt my child’s vision?] You can print this checklist of fun activities to encourage outdoor time for your own home or hand it out to parents.

Offer work or study breaks

Sustained work that requires a student to keep both eyes focused in the same direction, or follow along with text or numbers, is challenging for children with vision problems. It’s beneficial to provide regular breaks to give their eyes time to rest.14 A simple but impactful strategy to prevent eye strain is the 20-20-20 rule. Encourage a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away.15

As parents and educators, we must communicate with one another when we see signs of vision problems. We have an opportunity to share knowledge and resources, like MyMyopia.com, to help our kids.

Moneypox and your eyes

Doctors of optometry can play a role in detecting monkeypox—the virus recently declared a public health emergency. Be aware of the ophthalmic manifestations. Past outbreaks, such as the Zika virus and COVID-19, have brought public health and optometry’s critical role to the forefront.

In general, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox symptoms include:

  • A rash that goes through stages

  • Fever

  • Chills

  • Swollen lymph nodes

  • Exhaustion

  • Muscle aches and backache

  • Headache

  • Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion or cough)

The CDC says that monkeypox can be spread from “person to person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling or sex.”

Manifesting in the eye

In the journal Eye, an editorial titled “Ophthalmic Manifestations of Monkeypox Virus” refers to several conditions linked to the disease, including conjunctivitis, blepharitis, corneal ulcerations, focal conjunctival lesions, photophobia, keratitis, and vision loss to varying degrees.

“We can treat these common ophthalmic manifestations of human monkeypox,” Dr. Lowe says, “allowing the patient to be more comfortable and preventing any late-stage corneal scarring or vision loss as the disease progresses.”

The CDC says the incubation period of monkeypox is between 3-17 days and lasts from two to four weeks. Dr. Lowe says that patients often present with lymphadenopathy, including pre-auricular nodes, which will differentiate human monkeypox from smallpox and chickenpox.

How should doctors of optometry proceed?

Be proactive: Dr. Lowe says, “Continue to collect excellent case histories and encourage vaccinations for any patient you may feel is at risk for exposure. Reiterate, as with the COVID vaccine, that the progression and severity of the disease can be greatly reduced with vaccination.”

Review the infection protocols in your practice, Dr. Lowe says, noting that the processes are still in place due to COVID-19. “Our protocols are the same as they were for COVID,” she says. “In our practice, we recommend masks to our patients but do not require them. Our technicians wear masks whether patients have theirs on or not.”

Communicate with patients, Dr. Lowe says. “Communicate with those patients who may have been exposed to the human monkeypox virus or at-risk for the virus—through either examination or their case history—and encourage them to be vaccinated,” she says. “We can identify a sequela of ophthalmic manifestations we must treat. We can tell them some of the ocular signs and visual symptoms that occur with monkeypox. That knowledge of ocular manifestations is often a great motivator for vaccination. Certainly, have them contact their primary care physician for treatment and vaccination.”

“We must stay abreast of all the latest health care information,” Dr. Lowe says, “especially now that the Department of Health and Human Services has declared monkeypox a public health emergency.”

The public health declaration

Said White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator Robert Fenton, “We are applying lessons learned from the battles we’ve fought—from COVID response to wildfires to measles and will tackle this outbreak with the urgency this moment demands.”

This information is shared from the American Optometric Association.

If you have questions or concerns, please call our office.

New Information on controlling and managing presbyopia-blurry near vision.

Older adults are projected to outnumber people under age 18 by 2035—for the first time in U.S. history. They’ll start to hold their cards further away or move their arm in and out as they view their cellphones, as they have trouble focusing. There are other conditions that may beset Americans as they grow older—glaucoma, cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration, but none of the others are as inevitable and affect as many. Blurry vision happens to everybody as we get older.

“It’s an exciting era opening up for doctor and patient who are interested in controlling and managing presbyopia,” Dr. Chang O.D., director of specialty lenses in cornea service at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. says. “If we’re talking about what’s exciting, we really can’t get away from the recent FDA approval of VUITY(by Allergan), which is one of the first, and others to come, in terms of presbyopia pharmaceutical eye drop.

There may be an inevitability when it comes to presbyopia, but doctors of optometry can help patients understand their options and relieve their frustrations.

3 tips for an eye-healthy Thanksgiving feast

It's not only the holiday greens but also the yellows, reds, and oranges of a nutrient-rich diet that contribute to an eye-healthy smorgasbord this Thanksgiving.

Called carotenoids, those colorful pigments in fruits and vegetables—even the vibrant Fall foliage—are powerful antioxidants that protect against cellular damage, and when combined with other essential vitamins and nutrients, provide health benefits vital for aging eyes.

Vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids all play important roles in reducing the risks for certain eye diseases. In fact, prevalent National Eye Institute research, called the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2), found that increased antioxidant vitamin intake reduced advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk by about 25%, and reduced vision loss by 19%. So, too, other recent studies showed that higher vitamin C and E intake lowered overall cataract risk and progression.

Thanksgiving meals aren't typically renowned for their healthy fare— these five classic Turkey Day items are the equivalent of an Olympic gymnasts' entire daily caloric intake—but a few conscious menu choices could offer the family healthy options not only beneficial for eye health, but also for overall health, as well. AOA member Daniel Bintz, O.D., says though Thanksgiving is sometimes interpreted as a "free pass to eat it all," anything in moderation is a good rule most dieticians use.

"For ocular nutrition, the rules don't really change—more fruit and veggies, and the rawer, or non-prepared, the better," Dr. Bintz says.

Want to eat eye-healthy this Thanksgiving? Dr. Bintz and Georgia Air National Guard Lt. Col. Jennifer Carver, O.D., who also has a culinary degree, offer their suggestions for holiday eats.

3 menu tips for staying eye healthy this Thanksgiving

1. Mindful menu options. "People don't feel deprived on the holidays if you can make delicious, healthy substitutions," Dr. Carver says. Try giving these traditional choices a healthy overhaul.

Cauliflower
Instead of the carb-laden mashed, white potatoes, try mashed cauliflower instead. Steam a head of cauliflower and mince in the food processor until the proper consistency is reached, Dr. Carver says. Add sautéed leeks. Cauliflower is a very good source of vitamin C and omega-3s, both linked to proper visual development.

Sweet potatoes
Try sweet potato oat bars, packed with healthy fats. Combine 5 baked and skinned sweet potatoes with 4 cups oats, 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice, 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, ½ Tbsp. maple syrup, ¼ cup ground flax seed, ¾ cup coconut milk soured with 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. salt, ½ dried fruit of choice and ½ cup chopped nuts of choice. Combine and bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes. Sweet potatoes also are very good sources of vitamin C, as are fruits, and nuts are excellent sources of vitamin E. These vitamins can help slow progression of AMD and protect cells in the eyes from free radicals that break down healthy tissue.

2.Think color. Fill your plate with a rainbow of foods with carotenoids, Dr. Carver suggests. "Dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach and collards have lutein, which is important for good macular function. Carrots and pumpkin are great sources of beta carotene and vitamin C," she says.

3. Change it up. Dr. Bintz suggests instead of cooking "special items" for that one person in the family with a food allergy, diabetes or other dietary restriction, cook enough for the whole family to benefit. In his house, "we will have turkey and salmon," Dr. Bintz says. Salmon is loaded with eye-rich nutrients, including zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Zinc plays an essential role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, the protective pigment in the eyes.

But proper nutrition is only a part of the healthy eyes menu. It's regular, comprehensive dilated eye examinations that represent the most important portion of the preventive eye health equation. Many common eye diseases have no obvious signs or symptoms, and early diagnosis and intervention can help ward off vision loss.

Credits AOA.org NOVEMBER 22, 2021

Vitamins, nutrients in these holiday foods could benefit eye health.

Learning and Vision

Did you know 1 in 4 children in the US has a vision problem that affects their ability to learn?

Give us a call today at (913)732-2552 to schedule an appointment for your child

Curts & Reed Optometry in Olathe, KS offers superior eye care for children of all ages. Our eye care team understands the importance of vision in development and learning and we are passionate about helping kids achieve their full potential.

Our kid-focused services include:

Info from the American Optometry Association Signs of eye and vision problems

When certain visual skills have not developed, or are poorly developed, learning is difficult and stressful. A child may not tell you that he or she has a vision problem because they may think the way they see is the way everyone sees. Children will typically attempt to do the work, but with a lowered level of comprehension or efficiency.

Signs that may indicate a child has a vision problem include:

  • Complaints of discomfort and fatigue.

  • Frequent eye rubbing or blinking.

  • Short attention span.

  • Avoiding reading and other close activities.

  • Frequent headaches.

  • Covering one eye.

  • Tilting the head to one side.

  • Holding reading materials close to the face.

  • An eye turning in or out.

  • Seeing double.

  • Losing place when reading.

  • Difficulty remembering what he or she read.

Undetected and untreated, vision problems can elicit some of the very same signs and symptoms commonly attributed to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), like hyperactivity and distractibility. Due to these similarities, children eliciting these symptoms should have a comprehensive vision exam with their doctor of optometry to avoid misdiagnosis.

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