If you find yourself wincing at bright sunlight or the glare from your computer screen, you know how disruptive light sensitivity can be. However, this discomfort could be connected to the health of your tear film.
When your eyes aren’t properly lubricated, it can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms known as dry eye. Dry eyes can cause a noticeable sensitivity to light, making everyday environments feel uncomfortably bright. If your optometrist can determine that dry eyes are the cause of your light sensitivity, they can put you on the path to comfortable vision again.
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
You experience dry eye when your eyes don’t produce enough tears to stay moist, or when your tears evaporate too quickly. A healthy tear film is important because it protects your eye’s surface and helps you see clearly.
Common symptoms of dry eyes include:
- A stinging or burning sensation
- Feeling like there is sand or grit in your eyes
- Moments of blurry vision
- Redness and soreness
- Watery eyes, which can be your body’s response to the irritation
- Discomfort while wearing contact lenses
The Link Between Dry Eyes and Light Sensitivity
Your tear film creates a smooth surface that helps focus light correctly when it enters your eye. When your eyes are dry, this surface can become uneven and rough.
An irregular eye surface scatters light instead of focusing it, which can cause discomfort and sensitivity to brightness. This is why sunlight, fluorescent lights, and even screen glare can feel overwhelming when your eyes are dry.
How an Optometrist Diagnoses Light Sensitivity
Light sensitivity can happen for many reasons, so it’s helpful to identify the specific cause. During a comprehensive eye exam, your optometrist can determine the cause of your discomfort. This is because a proper exam is more than just a vision test; it’s a thorough assessment of your eye health.
Your optometrist will talk with you about your symptoms, health, and lifestyle. We use specialized tools to examine your tear film and the surface of your eyes. This close look helps us find the root cause of your dry eye symptoms.
Ways to Manage Light Sensitivity From Dry Eyes
Managing light sensitivity often involves treating the underlying dry eye. A combination of at-home habits and professional care can provide relief and help your eyes feel more comfortable again.
Here are some tips you can follow at home to help avoid light sensitivity:
- Use artificial tears: Lubricating eye drops can supplement your natural tears for immediate relief. For frequent use, preservative-free options are often a good choice.
- Wear protective eyewear: Sunglasses help shield your eyes from UV rays and wind. Your optometrist can also recommend eyeglasses with coatings that reduce glare.
- Apply warm compresses: A moist warm compress style mask like the Bruder mask held over your closed eyes for 8-10 minutes each day can help improve tear quality and soothe irritation by softening hard oils in your glands.
- Take screen breaks: If you use a computer for long periods, remember to blink often and follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Professional Dry Eye Therapy Options
When at-home remedies like artificial tears and warm compresses aren’t enough, professional in-office treatments can provide deeper, long-lasting relief. These options are designed to address the root cause of dryness for longer-lasting comfort. They include:
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy: This treatment uses controlled pulses of light to reduce inflammation around the eyelids and break up blockages in the meibomian glands. It helps them produce the essential oils needed to keep your tears from evaporating too quickly.
- LipiFlow: LipiFlow uses a combination of gentle heat and therapeutic massage. By applying warmth directly to the inner eyelids and pulsing pressure to the outer lids, it safely clears out thickened oils to restore healthy gland function.
- Radiofrequency (RF): This non-invasive procedure uses high-frequency electrical current to generate soothing heat. This heat melts away obstructions in the oil glands and has the added benefit of stimulating collagen production, which can firm the skin around the eyes.
- ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment): ZEST is a deep-cleansing “facial” for your eyelids. Using a natural, okra-based gel, this treatment gently exfoliates the lid margins to remove bacteria, debris, and oily residue that contribute to irritation and inflammation.
Treatments for Long-Term Comfort
The right treatment for you depends on the specific cause of your dry eyes. That’s why the first step to regaining comfortable vision is discovering the cause.
Our team at Upper Richmond Optometry provides comprehensive eye exams to help protect your vision and detect early signs of eye disease. To get to the bottom of your dry eye symptoms, book an appointment today.
