Eye Treatment for Allergies and Dry Eyes in Round Rock and Hutto
Best Optomentrist In Round Rock And Hutto
Allergies and dry eyes are common and chronic conditions, especially among women. Several factors contribute to this problem making it important that you consult a doctor. While separate conditions, these two ailments have many similarities, including their susceptibility to the treatments offered by our optometry specialists.
Allergies And Dry Eyes: The Truth About Dry Eye
Tears are not simply made up of water. There are numerous components to tears, but think of them simply as having three layers – mucin, water and lipids. Dry eye occurs when one of these components is not underproducing.Â
The lipid layer is the outer layer of the tears and its primary role is to prevent the tears from evaporating or spilling over the lid margins. The lipid layer is produced by glands on the edge of the lids called meibomian glands. The majority of dry eye is caused by a decrease in this lipid layer. Certain medical conditions can also cause dry eye. The most common symptoms include burning, a sandy, gritty feeling, redness and sometimes reflex tearing.
Allergies And Dry Eyes: The Truth About Allergies
While both conditions can cause redness and tearing, the main symptom of allergies is itchy eyes. An ocular allergy is caused by sensitivity to a substance that is not usually harmful. When the allergen interacts with cells called mast cells, a substance called histamine is released which causes itching, redness, and swelling. Most allergies are due to environmental factors like pollen, cat dander, dust mites, etc. There are also more serious ocular allergies that require medical intervention.
Contact our optometrist office in Round Rock or Hutto today to book your dry eye treatment!
