Dry eyes can disrupt your activities of daily living. Eye dryness causes irritation, burning sensations, and itching. It may also make you feel as though you have grains of sand in your eyes. Fortunately, the doctors at your local optometric center in Windsor CO can determine the cause of your dry eyes so that an effective treatment plan can be developed. Here are some reasons for ocular dryness and what can be done about them.
Drug Side Effects
Many medications can cause ocular dryness, including antihistamines, blood pressure medications, antianxiety drugs, and diuretics. Your eye doctor will ask you about your medication history, and if he or she believes that your current medications are the cause of your dry eyes, you may be referred back to the prescribing physician for a dosage adjustment.
If a lower dose fails to resolve your symptoms, your physician may discontinue the offending drug and replace it with a different once that is less likely to cause ocular dryness.
Autoimmune Diseases
A number of autoimmune disorders can cause eye dryness because they attack the tear ducts. You can get more information from the eye doctor at the optometric center in Windsor CO about which autoimmune disorders affect the eyes.
Lubricating eye drops can help keep your eyes moist and keep you comfortable. Staying well-hydrated by drinking more water will also help keep the mucous membranes in your eyes from drying out. To get more information about dry eyes or to make an appointment, call Parkview Family Eye Center.
