When tears don’t actually do what they’re supposed to, you may end up with a condition called dry eye. If you suspect you’re dealing with this problem, an eye doctor at Family Vision Center in Bridgeport, CT, can help.

It’s important to see a professional if your tears aren’t properly lubricating your eyes since tears serve several very important purposes. In addition to allowing you to let out feelings of stress, exhaustion, or sadness, they can remove irritants that may be bothering your eyes.

So what happens when your body suddenly stops producing tears? You are likely suffering from dry eye syndrome. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways, in addition to the obvious problem involved with producing fewer tears. Your eyes may suddenly feel itchy and dry, and they may appear red and irritated when you look in the mirror. You might develop an oversensitivity to light that gets worse over time, and your vision may begin to blur, making it difficult to perform the functions you once did with ease.

Dry eyes are not uncommon, particularly as people age. It may occur more commonly in menopausal women. Other factors that may contribute to the condition include taking specific medications, such as antidepressants and antihistamines. Immune system conditions, including diabetes and thyroid issues, may also contribute to dry eyes.

An experienced eye doctor can diagnose this problem and develop a dry eye treatment that helps improve your life. The goal is to address it as soon as possible, because dry eye is a chronic condition that only gets worse over time. Your eye doctor may prescribe artificial tears, lubricating eye drops, or even eye drops containing steroids to reduce inflammation that isn’t successfully treated with typical drops.

If you’re dealing with dry eyes, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with your optometrist. Visit the Family Vision Center website, or give them a call today at (203) 333-2020.