If you have ever suffered from dry eyes, you know that dry eyes can be not only annoying and cumbersome but genuinely disruptive. From making it difficult to looking at your computer screen to making it impossible to focus on anything else, dry eyes are a genuine issue. Which is why no one would blame you if you’ve been using eye drops, but as you may have guessed if you’ve been using eye drops for too long since the amount you’ve been using or the frequency of use has gone up, prolonged eye drop use can lead to issues. Eye drops are meant to be a temporary fix to a short-lived issue. If you fear you’ve been overusing eye drops then keep reading to learn about the consequences and what you can do!
Eye Drops Can Worsen Your Dry Eyes
Some eye drops work by constricting the blood vessels to help alleviate eye redness and irritation. But, prolonged use of these eye drops can actually cause a rebound effect where your body sends a strong dilation response to your blood vessels in the eye. This causes eye redness and irritation, potentially even more than the initial redness or irritation and dryness.
Eye Drops Can Dry Out Your Natural Tears
There is an oily tear film over your eyes that helps tears stick to them and keep your eyes well-lubricated which is imperative for proper function and health of the eye. With extended eye drop usage and if the oily tear film dries out, your natural lubrication system dries out as well due to evaporation. This can create a feedback loop where your dry eyes are worse than before you started using eye drops!
What Can I Do If Not Use Eye Drops?
Luckily, Dr. Murrell is here to help with LipiFlow. Typically requiring just a single, painless treatment that takes around 20 minutes, Dr. Murrell and LipiFlow are able to address dry eyes. Even if LipiFlow is not the solution for you, a consultation with Dr. Murrell may be what you need. Eye drops can be a fantastic temporary treatment, if you’ve been using eye drops for a long time, chances are they’ve been covering up a different issue that needs medical attention. If you’re looking for eye relief, give us a call at 806-351-1177!
