Sunaina Netra Chikitsalaya
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Dry eye and allergy

Gritty, burning, red or watering eyes are very common. They are often a sign that your tears are not doing their job.

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Side view of the front of the eye with the tear film as three thin layers over the cornea: a mucus layer, a water layer and an oil layer. Dry patches break the film, a blink sweeps over, and the film is whole and glistening again.CorneaOil layerWater layerMucus layer

At a glance

  • What we check

    Tear film

    How fast your tears dry and how healthy they are.

  • Where suitable

    IPL

    Pulses of light to help the oil glands.

  • Big difference

    Daily habits

    Blinking, screens, sleep and water.

  • Treated too

    Allergy

    Itchy, watery eyes from dust, pollen or smoke.

Dry eye and eye allergy

Your eye is covered by a thin layer of tears, the tear film. It has three layers: oil, water and a little mucus. If the oil layer is weak, the water dries too fast. This is dry eye.

What you may feel

A gritty or burning feeling, redness, tired eyes, light that bothers you, blurry sight that clears when you blink. Strangely, dry eyes can also water a lot, because the eye tries to make up for the dryness.

Why it happens

Long hours on screens (we blink much less), air conditioning, dust and smoke, age, contact lens use, some medicines, and blocked oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian glands). Allergy is a different problem and causes itching, watering and swollen lids, often with sneezing.

What we do

Dr. Kumar looks at your eyelids and tear film and finds the cause. Treatment is usually in steps: lubricating drops, warm compresses, lid cleaning, advice on screen breaks, and in some people IPL therapy. Allergy is treated with allergy drops and by avoiding the trigger.

Habits that help

  • Look away from the screen every 20 minutes and blink fully.
  • Drink enough water and sleep well.
  • Keep fans and air conditioning from blowing straight on your face.
  • Do not rub itchy eyes. Use only drops that the doctor has advised.

Honest cautions

  • Do not use steroid eye drops without a doctor. Used long, they can cause cataract and glaucoma.
  • Dry eye is usually long term. Treatment brings comfort, not a permanent cure.
  • Call us at once if: you have eye pain, a drop in sight, strong light sensitivity, or a sudden red eye.

Dry eye and blur

Drag the handle to compare.

Illustration of dry eye: sight is blurred and wavers until a blink briefly clears it.

Blur that clears on blinking is shown as an example. Relief depends on the cause.

How Dr. Kumar treats it

The procedures used for this condition. Tap one to see the steps.

Questions about dry eye and allergy

Why do my eyes water if they are dry?

When the eye is dry, it makes a flood of watery tears to protect itself. These tears are poor quality and run off. The real problem is the missing oil layer.

Are screens harming my eyes?

Screens do not damage the eye, but we blink much less when we stare at them, which dries the eyes. Take breaks and blink fully.

Is dry eye curable?

Usually it is managed, not cured. Treatment brings relief and protects the eye surface. Dr. Kumar will tell you what to expect.

Can I use the redness-removing drops from a shop?

Please do not use them often. They can make the eye more dry and red in the long run. Ask Dr. Kumar which drops are right for you.

Is eye allergy dangerous?

Mild allergy is not dangerous but is very annoying. Do not rub your eyes. Come to us if there is pain, a drop in sight or a lot of redness.

Your eyes deserve one doctor who knows them.

Book a visit with Dr. Kumar, or call and we will help you choose a time.

Book appointmentCall +91 749 107 3667