Solve Winter Dry Eyes With Punctual Plugs.
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As winter approaches, dry eyes can become a reality for nearly 16 million people in the United States according to the National Eye Institute. The cold temperatures and indoor heat can cause more problems for your eyes than you think. For people living in the Midwest, winter brings harsh winds and brutally cold temperatures, both of which can dry eyes out. In addition to this indoor heating can also intensify dry eyes. Some common symptoms related to dry eyes include:
- Gritty sensation
- Eye redness
- Burning sensation
- Eye soreness
- Itchy eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Tearing
- Foggy vision
Dry eye can be caused by many mechanisms, the most common being:
- Not producing enough tears
- Not producing healthy tears
- Tears drying more quickly than normal
Many times over the counter artificial tear eye products are not enough to relieve these symptoms. Fortunately there are many treatments available for people suffering from dry eye that your eye care professional can prescribe.
One effective treatment is called punctal plugs. Punctal plugs are small devices inserted into the eye’s tear duct, also called the puncta. The puncta are openings that drain the tears from your eye. Punctal plugs prevent some tears from draining therefore help your eyes stay moist longer and therefore preventing some of the bothersome dry eye symptoms. These plugs can be inserted in the office in a matter of minutes. Call Ticho Eye Associates to make an appointment today to try this effective treatment for dry eye!