Your eyes are one of the most important organs in your body. If you don't properly care for them, you could not only be in pain and discomfort but also lose one of your most vital senses, sight. This is why it is so important to learn how to care for problems with your eyes, like dry eye. Here are some things that you need to know about dry eye.

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is when your eyes don't have enough moisture and lubricant. It is not just water that your eyes need; it is an actual lubricant that will keep your eyes healthy. When you don't have enough lubricant in your eyes, dirt, bacteria, and other particles can sit in the eye, making it hurt, get infected, and even blur your vision. This is why having plenty of moisture in your eyes is so important.

What Are the Signs of Dry Eye?

Many people think that dry eye would only exhibit itself in eyes that are, in fact, dry. But that is not always the case. You could even have tears running down your face and still have dry eye. This is because the body is trying to compensate for the lack of moisture, but tears alone are not enough to moisturize the eye.

You will also notice itching, blurred vision, pain, redness, the feeling that there is something in your eye such as dirt, or overall discomfort. It will also be painful to wear contacts.

How Do You Treat Dry Eye?

If you have dry eye, it is important that you get treatment right away. If you ignore the problem, it could become severe and chronic so that you are no longer a candidate for Lasik surgery, can never wear contacts, have long-term vision problems, and so forth. 

One of the best ways to treat dry eye is to get over-the-counter eye drops that help to lubricate the eye. You don't just want artificial tears; these drops may help the discomfort, but they will not correct the overall problem. Instead, you should make sure that there are active ingredients that have lubricants in them. This is the best way to help the eye.

If after using over-the-counter remedies you still have problems with your eyes, you should talk to an eye doctor. The problem may need more treatment than simple over-the-counter remedies.

By understanding dry eye, you can protect yourself and your eyes.