Dry Eye Vision Loss: What Grand Junction Seniors Should Know
Dry eye feels like walking around with a pebble in your shoe. According to a study by Britten-Jones AC et al (2024), an estimated 10-20% of the population over 40 years of age lives with or has sought treatment for the condition.
Seniors are at a higher risk of developing it. Their eyes produce fewer tears as they age.
Preventing dry eye is essential for preserving aging eyesight. Grand Junction, CO, may have beautiful rivers, but it's also a desert town, so the risk remains.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about dry eye vision loss and how to prevent it.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes come from a problem with the body's natural tear production. The tears either don't have enough water in them, or there aren't enough of them.
What causes these issues? What could keep the body from naturally producing enough tears?
There are several potential causes. Dry eyes can come from:
- Natural aging
- Underlying medical conditions
- Side effects of medications
- Excessive screen time
- Improper contact lens use
- Allergies
Dry Eye Symptoms
Most cases of dry eye don't lead to vision loss. However, you may still notice it.
Common dry eye symptoms include:
- Itchiness
- Burning
- Redness
- Grittiness
- Soreness
- Blurred vision
These aren't the only ways dry eye can affect you. The condition can get worse over time.
While rare, severe symptoms may present themselves in advanced cases and include:
- Severe pain
- Changes in the shape of your eyelid
- Severe vision changes
- Severe light sensitivity
What Happens When Dry Eye Isn't Addressed
Mild to moderate dry eye is primarily an annoyance. While it can distract you enough to make daily life more difficult, it's unlikely to lead to dry eye vision loss.
Severe or chronic dry eye can damage the cornea, the transparent surface in the front of the eye. It needs tears to protect it.
Without enough tears, the cornea can become damaged. It may result in the following:
- Abrasions
- Ulcers
- Scarring
- Infections
This level of damage is enough to have a major impact. It can lead to temporary or permanent dry eye vision loss.
Signs of Dry Eye Vision Loss
It doesn't matter whether you or a loved one is at home or in senior living in Grand Junction. As dry eyes affect your vision, they will also influence your behavior.
Be aware of any changes that may indicate vision problems, which may include:
- Holding reading materials at a distance
- Squinting
- Using extra light for daily activities
- Increased blinking
- Worsening night vision issues
- Complaints of spots, halos, or spidery lines
The sooner you notice these changes, the sooner you can seek proper treatment. Putting it off is like refusing to remove an irritating rock from your shoe.
Managing Dry Eye
Preventing and managing dry eye is an important part of your Grand Junction health journey. It helps keep your eyes healthy and prevents damage from spreading.
Watch what you put into your body and the environment around you. Get professional and personal help when needed. This may help your eyes produce tears naturally.
Eat and Drink Well
Stay hydrated at all times. Dehydration exacerbates the symptoms of dry eyes.
Eat a balanced diet rich in all the essential nutrients you need. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish are particularly known for their role in supporting tear production. Vitamin A is also essential for eye wellness.
Use Medication or Get Surgery
Consider artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to help your eye produce necessary tears and protect the cornea. You can obtain these through a prescription or over the counter.
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to enable proper eyelid function. It can correct issues such as entropion, which occurs when your eyelids fold in on themselves.
Enhance Your Environment
Changing your environment may help alleviate dry eyes, especially in dry climates. Try placing a humidifier in your home to add back a bit of moisture.
Grand Junction has low humidity and average temperatures of up to 96°, according to FirstStreet.Org. That's enough to dry out your eyes, and the secondary moisture from the humidifier should help.
Avoid anything that may irritate your eyes, such as tobacco smoke. Don't put in contact lenses until you know your eyes are clear and no longer dry.
Stay Away from Screens
Limit your screen time. Prolonged screen use tends to reduce blinking, which decreases tear production.
There are other ways for you to spend your time that won't harm your eyes. Enjoy the active amenities available through senior living in Grand Junction, CO, instead.
What if you're at home or in assisted living in Grand Junction, Colorado, and it's movie time? Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, you look at an area 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It can reduce the eye strain caused by screens.
Get Regular Eye Exams
Get an eye exam at least once or twice a year; this is crucial for senior vision care. The doctor can screen for dry eye and other conditions, such as:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
Early identification of these conditions leads to more effective treatment. It also prevents them from progressing to severe stages that require more serious procedures to mitigate damage.
Get Help
Remembering all of these vision tips isn't always easy. Find a family member or friend who can help you manage and prevent a dry, irritating fate.
Senior living communities can assist in implementing these changes. If memory is a struggle, rely on the medication reminders offered at memory care in Grand Junction, CO. It'll help you make sure you take your eyedrops on time.
Find a Senior Living Community to Preserve Your Overall Health
Dry eye vision loss occurs when an irritating condition is left unaddressed for too long. Preventing it requires a regular care schedule and a team that's on your side.
The Lodge at Grand Junction offers award-winning programs such as VibrantLife©, Elevate Dining, and Generations Memory Care, which allow residents to set their own schedules while always having the care they need.
The Lodge Senior Living is what senior living should be. Residents get the fulfilling, healthy lives they deserve. Schedule a tour of our community today.