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We’ve enhanced our protocols for our patients’ health and safety, which is our number one priority. Before arriving, please let us know if you are experiencing any symptoms of the Coronavirus or if you have been in close contact with someone that has COVID-19. Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or a new loss of taste or smell. Because fever is a common sign of COVID, we are required to check your temperature with a non-contact thermometer when you arrive.

Additionally, for the safety of everyone in the office, we ask that you please come alone or limit the number of people that accompany you to one person, if possible. Also, please wear a cloth face covering or facemask. We’ll ask that you clean your hands with hand sanitizer upon entering the office and try to maintain a 6 foot distance from other patients and customers.

We have also applied specific guidelines for vulnerable members of the population, so that they feel comfortable in our office. As needed, Sumner Vision team will make special accommodations to minimize risk of exposure based on individual needs.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for everyone.

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  • What You Need to Know About Dry Eye

What You Need to Know About Dry Eye

  • Created in Newsletters, Conditions That Affect Vision
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If you have never suffered from dry eye, you might not appreciate how important your tears are to your eye health. Without enough moisture, your eyes can become dry, itchy, red and uncomfortable. Dry eye occurs when you do not make enough tears or the tears you produce are not high quality.

The Importance of Tears

Although you might not realize it, your eyes constantly produce tears. Tears are needed to keep the front of your eyes moist and comfortable. They help remove tiny specks of debris or dust from the eyes. When something falls into your eye, tear production increases, in an attempt to wash away the foreign object.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye symptoms include:

  • A feeling that there is a foreign object in your eyes
  • Gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes
  • Burning and stinging
  • Itching
  • Eye fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Pain and redness
  • Difficulty reading or working on a computer for long periods of time
  • Stringy discharge
  • Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
  • Inability to cry

Who Gets Dry Eye?

Dry eye can occur at any age; although it is most common in people over the age of 65. Hormonal changes in women during pregnancy and menopause can increase the risk of dry eye, as can the use of hormonal birth control methods, such as birth control pills.

No matter what your age, you may experience dry eye if you are exposed to wind, dry conditions or smoke, or have allergies. Some types of medications can affect tear production, including antidepressants, tranquilizers, hormone replacement medications, antihistamines, blood pressure medication and decongestants. If you have thyroid disease, diabetes, chronic conjunctivitis, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis, you may be more likely to develop the condition.

Dry eye can also be a problem if you have worn contact lenses for many years or have had LASIK surgery to improve your vision. In some cases, LASIK can decrease tear production. Failure to blink regularly, which can occur when you stare at a computer monitor for a long time, can also trigger the problem.

Treatment Options

Optometrists can offer several strategies and treatment options that will help your eyes feel more comfortable, including:

  • The use of artificial tears for added moisture
  • Changing a medication if dry eye is a side effect
  • Treating underlying diseases and conditions that cause dry eye
  • Plugging the drainage holes in your eyes to prevent tears from draining too quickly
  • Changing the type of contact lenses you wear
  • Recommending that you use an air purifier to remove allergens from the air
  • Prescribing cyclosporine, an anti-inflammatory medicine that increases tear production

If you have a severe case of dry eye, your eye doctor may suggest punctal cautery, a minor surgical procedure that permanently plugs the drainage holes in your eyes.

Keep your eyes healthy with regular eye examinations. Is it about time for your next exam? If so, call us today to set up an appointment!

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