Monarch Bay Optometry | Dana Point, California
Fall in Dana Point may not bring freezing temperatures or dramatic changes in the leaves, but your eyes can definitely notice the change of season.
October in Southern California can bring dry air, wind, changing humidity, allergens and plenty of time outdoors. Add computers, phones and contact lenses to the mix, and suddenly your eyes may feel much less comfortable than they did a few months ago.
If your eyes have been burning, watering, feeling gritty or becoming blurry as the day goes on, dry eye may be the reason.
And yes, surprisingly, watery eyes can actually be dry eyes.
Why Can Fall Be Hard on Your Eyes?
Our tears do much more than make us cry. A healthy tear film coats the surface of the eye every time we blink. It helps keep our vision clear, protects the eye and keeps the surface comfortable.
The tear film also contains an oily layer that helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.
According to the National Eye Institute, dry or windy environments can make dry eye symptoms worse. Long periods of screen use and contact lens wear can also contribute.
Learn more about dry eye from the National Eye Institute
For those of us living in Dana Point and throughout coastal Orange County, a beautiful fall day outside can still mean plenty of wind, sun and environmental exposure for our eyes.
Did You Know? Dry Eyes Can Make Your Eyes Water
This sounds completely backwards, but it is something we hear from patients all the time:
“My eyes can’t be dry. They’re constantly watering!”
They can.
When the surface of the eye becomes irritated, the eyes may respond with excessive tearing. But watery eyes don’t necessarily mean your tear film is healthy or stable.
At Monarch Bay Optometry, we evaluate much more than whether your eyes are simply producing tears. We look at the overall health of the ocular surface, eyelids and tear film.
Signs Your Eyes May Be Too Dry
Dry eye doesn’t feel the same for everyone. Symptoms may include:
- Burning or stinging
- A gritty or sandy sensation
- Redness
- Excessive watering
- Fluctuating or blurry vision
- Contact lenses becoming uncomfortable later in the day
- Sensitivity to light
- Tired or heavy-feeling eyes
- Feeling as though something is stuck in your eye
If these symptoms sound familiar, you can learn more about our dry eye treatment in Dana Point.
Your Screen May Be Part of the Problem
October also means most of us are firmly back into our normal routines. Work, school, homework, emails, streaming and scrolling can add up to hours of screen time.
When we’re concentrating on a screen, our blinking patterns can change. Blinking is important because each complete blink redistributes the tear film across the eye.
The American Optometric Association recommends the easy-to-remember 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look approximately 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Learn more about digital eye strain from the American Optometric Association
You can also learn more about digital eye strain and ways to make screen use more comfortable on the Monarch Bay Optometry website.
Try This Today
The next time you’re answering emails or scrolling on your phone, pay attention to your blinking.
Every so often, intentionally make several slow, complete blinks. Your eyelids should gently close all the way.
It sounds almost too simple, but blinking plays an important role in maintaining a healthy tear film.
Sometimes Dry Eye Is Really an Eyelid Problem
For many patients, the problem isn’t simply that they don’t make enough tears.
Tiny meibomian glands located along the eyelids produce oils that help slow tear evaporation.
When these glands become blocked or don’t function properly, tears can evaporate too quickly. This is called meibomian gland dysfunction, or MGD, and it is an important contributor to evaporative dry eye.
This is also why repeatedly buying different artificial tears may provide temporary relief without addressing the underlying reason your eyes keep becoming uncomfortable.
Dry Eye Treatment Has Changed
Modern dry eye care has come a long way from simply telling everyone to use artificial tears.
At Monarch Bay Optometry in Dana Point, we can evaluate the ocular surface, tear film, eyelids and meibomian glands to help determine what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Depending on what we find, treatment may include changes in daily habits, eye drops, eyelid treatments or modern in-office therapies.
For appropriate patients, our Dry Eye Therapy options include advanced technologies such as IPL and radiofrequency to address conditions such as meibomian gland dysfunction.
The goal isn’t simply to make your eyes feel wetter for an hour.
We want to understand why your eyes are uncomfortable in the first place.
Enjoy Fall in Dana Point With More Comfortable Eyes
We are fortunate to live in a place where October can still mean walks around Dana Point Harbor, outdoor sports, beach days and dinner outside.
Your eyes should be comfortable enough to enjoy it.
If you’re constantly reaching for eye drops, removing your contacts early, struggling with fluctuating vision or wondering why your eyes are watering when they’re supposedly “dry,” it may be time to have the problem evaluated.
Schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation in Dana Point
At Monarch Bay Optometry, we provide personalized eye care and modern dry eye treatment for patients throughout Dana Point and surrounding South Orange County communities.
Don’t just keep treating the symptoms. Let’s find out why your eyes are uncomfortable.
