ROUND ROCK ALLERGY & DRY EYE TREATMENTS
THE BEST ROUND ROCK OPTOMETRIST
Round Rock allergy and dry eye treatments.
Dry eyes are a common chronic problem, especially for women. There are several factors that can contribute to this problem. It is important for you to discuss this problem with our doctors. Allergies are another frequent eye problem. Just like with dry eyes, there are several treatments available.
Dry Eye
Tears are not made of just water. There are numerous components to tears, but think of them simply as having three layers – mucin, water and lipids. A dry eye situation occurs when either too little water/mucin is produced, or if too little lipid is produced. 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
While eye allergies can also cause redness and tearing, the main symptom is itching. 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.
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