Waking up with a stye is no fun. But, it may be even more of an issue for contact lens wearers. If you wear contact lenses, you may wonder, “Can you wear contacts with a stye?”  

This article will explore the causes and symptoms of styes, the difference between styes and a similar condition called a chalazion, and share the best course of action to treat a stye. Additionally, we’ll go over whether you can wear contacts with a stye.

Key Points

• A stye is a painful eye infection caused by clogged eyelash follicles and eyelid glands. 
• Wearing contact lenses with a stye may spread the infection and cause more discomfort.
• Treating a stye at home is easy and should help to resolve your symptoms in a few days. 

Understanding Styes

First, know that styes are typically not vision-threatening, though they can be uncomfortable. 

In most cases, a stye will resolve on its own. You can treat symptoms at home, but may need to visit an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) if the eyelid swelling affects your vision.¹ While some people are more prone to styes than others, you can take steps in your daily eye care routine to avoid getting a stye.

It’s important to know what a stye is and the differences between a stye and a chalazion, a stye and pink eye, and whether or not you should avoid contact lenses when you have a stye. 

What is a Stye?

A stye (also referred to as a hordeolum, sometimes spelled “sty”) is a painful red bump on or inside your eyelid.¹ In addition to a bump and pain, symptoms include eyelid swelling, feeling like something is in your eye (foreign body sensation), and watery eyes. Some people also experience light sensitivity.¹

If you’re ever in doubt or concerned about your symptoms, see your eye doctor immediately. 

Know the Difference: Two Types of Styes

There are different causes for external and internal styes. External styes are more common than internal styes and tend to be less severe.¹

External stye

An external stye forms at the base of your lash due to a bacterial infection in the eyelash hair follicle. The bacteria staphylococcus aureus (staph) typically causes the infection. This type of stye may resemble a pimple.¹

People who wear eye makeup, like mascara and eyeliner, may experience an external stye if you don’t remove eye makeup entirely. Using expired makeup, or using makeup of someone who has an eye infection, can also lead to the development of a stye. 

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Internal stye

Internal styes develop inside your eyelid. The oil glands (called meibomian glands) that produce oil in your eyelids can get backed up, leading to an internal stye.¹

People with certain eye conditions, like blepharitis, develop styes because the condition results from inflammation in the meibomian glands.¹ Blepharitis symptoms also include dry eyes, itching, and crusty eyelids.² It is a common condition among people who have dandruff, rosacea, and some forms of dermatitis.²

Difference Between a Stye and Chalazion

You will notice a bump on your eyelid in both a chalazion and a stye. Like styes, clogged oil glands cause chalazia.¹

The most significant difference between a stye and a chalazion is that a stye is very painful and a chalazion is typically not associated with pain.¹ You can think of a chalazion as a stye that is not inflamed (yet). A chalazion can lead to a stye if it becomes infected or inflamed.¹ 

While styes can make the entire eyelid swell, a chalazion usually occurs on one part of the eyelid.¹ The treatment for both a stye and chalazion is similar unless they affect your vision. 

Can You Wear Contact Lenses with a Stye?

Because styes result from infection, it is best to avoid wearing contact lenses until your eyelid heals. Whether you wear hard (rigid gas permeable) or soft (daily disposables or extended wear lenses) contacts, you should wear your eyeglasses while your stye heals.³ 

For soft lenses, it’s best to throw away your current set of lenses and start with a fresh pair after your infection clears. For hard contact lenses, be sure to properly cleanse the lens with a cleaning solution and disinfect your case. 

You may find that avoiding contacts is more comfortable even if you just have a chalazion, but it is safe to wear them with a chalazion.³

Treating a Stye at Home

Most styes will resolve on their own within a few days. You can get relief and prevent infection from spreading by following these steps:⁴

• Use a warm compress 3 to 5 times per day to gently help loosen the clogged oil in your eyelids. You can make a warm compress at home using warm water and a washcloth. For a solution that doesn’t require heating, CorneaCare’s Rest warm compress doesn’t require a microwave and stays warm for up to 30 minutes. They come individually wrapped for your convenience.
• Use eyelid wipes or cleanser to keep your eyelids clean. This is a good daily habit to practice even when the stye clears up. CorneaCare’s Rise eyelid wipes are a great way to refresh and cleanse the eyelids while moisturizing the skin around the eyes. 
• Do not touch the swollen area of your eye or try to pop the stye. 
• Avoid wearing eye makeup until the infection is gone. 
• Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes.
• You may find that using a cold compress throughout the day soothes your eyes. The CorneaCare Rescue hydrogel cold compress mask is convenient and does not require refrigeration. 

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Stye Prevention

The best thing you can do to keep your eyes safe from eye infections like styes is to follow daily eyelid hygiene.⁴

• Remove face and eye makeup before going to bed at night with a gentle cleanser. If you don’t wear makeup, still take time to wash your face before bed. 
• Use eyelid wipes in the morning to remove any buildup from the night.
• Use a warm compress nightly before bed.
• Wash your hands often.
• Don’t share eye makeup with anyone.
• Discard expired or contaminated eye makeup.

When At Home Treatment Isn’t Enough

In rare cases, the infection can spread, causing your eyelids to swell even more and interfere with vision.

Call your eye doctor if your symptoms get worse or do not improve after a few days. Your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to treat the infection, or a steroid shot to reduce severe swelling.¹

Can I Wear Contacts with a Stye FAQ

Putting It All Together

If you’ve ever had a stye, you know how irritating they are. It’s hard to perform daily tasks while you are in pain, and you may have to cancel fun plans to take care of your eye. 

While your stye is healing, it’s best to avoid anything in or near your eye, including wearing contacts and eye makeup. Like most common eye conditions, the best way to prevent styes and chalazia is to practice daily eyelid hygiene. 

Care for your eyes like you do the rest of your body and continue to thrive in your daily life!

What’s Next

To learn more about how to wear contact lenses safely, check out:

• How to Tell if a Contact Lens is Still in Your Eye
• Can I Wear Contacts with Dry Eyes?
• What Happens if You Sleep with Contacts In?
• Are Colored Contact Lenses Safe?

To learn more about eye styes, read:

• Are Eye Styes Contagious?
• Blepharitis vs Styes: Understanding Eyelid Conditions
• Are Eye Styes Caused by Stress?
• Pink Eye vs. Stye: Key Differences

The post Can You Wear Contacts with a Stye? appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

If your eyes feel tired, it’s hard to motivate yourself to perform important work or even enjoy a night out. Many people assume that going about their daily lives with tired, dry eyes is par for the course when working at jobs that require long periods of looking at computer screens.

While digital eye strain may lead to your eyes feeling fatigued, it’s not the only culprit. We’ll explore other reasons why your eyes may be tired at the end of the day and how you can make small changes to feel more refreshed.

At CorneaCare, we believe that eye health starts with evaluating your overall health and lifestyle and making small changes that not only impact your eyesight but significantly impact your quality of life. 

Key Points

• Eye fatigue can cause you to put off important tasks throughout the day.
• Not all symptoms of “tired eyes” are caused by staring at a computer screen. Several other lifestyle factors contribute to eye fatigue. 
• Practicing good eyelid hygiene, giving your eyes and body proper rest, and getting regular eye exams can help prevent your eyes from feeling tired all the time. 

What Are the Symptoms of Eye Fatigue

We have all experienced the feeling of heavy, tired eyes at some point. While each person experiences tired eyes differently, there are some common symptoms associated with eye fatigue:¹

• Dry eyes
• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Red eyes
• Eye pain
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Headaches and migraines

As you can see, eye fatigue symptoms can start to extend outside of just your eyes. If your eyes feel tired, you may tend to squint more, leading to headaches and even muscle pain in your face. The good news is that eye strain and eye fatigue symptoms are usually temporary and can be alleviated with simple adjustments at home and work. 

Common Causes of Tired Eyes

There are many reasons why your eyes may feel fatigued. You may see eye fatigue and eye strain used interchangeably, but tired eyes can result from factors outside of eye strain. Understanding what may be causing your eyes to feel tired helps identify the right approach to alleviating your symptoms. 

Lifestyle and occupation

Improving your eye health starts with assessing your current lifestyle and making small changes that can lead to positive outcomes. Factors like lack of sleep and the work you perform at your job and at home can affect how your eyes feel. 

It may come as no surprise that lack of sleep contributes to eye fatigue. You’re tired, and so are your eyes. They may be red and bloodshot and you may need a bit of undereye concealer to hide your bags. Unfortunately, it’s not just appearance that’s affected by lack of sleep. Your eyes actually need rest to replenish tears, so when you miss out on getting that restorative sleep, your eyes feel dry, itchy and burn.² 

The work you do and the environment at your job may also cause your eyes to feel tired. While you may think eye fatigue only affects those who work in front of a computer screen for a long period of their day, it also affects workers who are outside in the sun and tend to squint more.

Truck drivers and those on the road who need to see long distances and focus for hours on end may also suffer. Maybe your job requires you to work in dim light or darkness, which hampers the eye’s ability to focus.³ We know you can’t just up and leave your job to prevent eye fatigue, but there are some ways you can work with your environment and treat your eyes to the rest they deserve.

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Digital eye strain

Digital eye strain, also referred to as computer vision syndrome, describes a group of eye and physical health-related problems stemming from intense use of computers, tablets, smartphones, and TVs.⁴ Symptoms of digital eye strain occur due to lack of blinking, improper screen viewing distance, and straining to see low-contrasted small text. 

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), those at greatest risk for developing computer vision syndrome symptoms are individuals who spend two or more continuous hours in front of a computer screen or digital device every day.⁴ Sound familiar? If reducing screen time is not in the cards for you, keep reading to learn how to take care of your eyes while using digital screens.

Uncorrected vision problems

If you experience frequent eye fatigue symptoms, schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist). Uncorrected vision problems lead your eyes to strain to perform tasks, causing them to fatigue easily.³

Your eye doctor will check that your eye muscles are working properly and that your contact lens and eyeglasses prescription are up to date. He or she may also prescribe special eyewear for computer use. However, keep in mind that most eye doctors agree that blue light blocking glasses do not alleviate eye strain.⁸ 

Dry eye disease 

Eye fatigue is a common symptom of dry eye disease. Dry eye disease (DED) is also known as dry eye syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and ocular surface disease. It is a chronic condition caused by unstable tears and inflammation and affects 30 million Americans.

While some of us experience tired, dry eyes from time to time, people with DED experience symptoms daily. Symptoms are typically severe enough to interfere with daily activities such as working, leisure, and sleep.⁵ 

How to Alleviate Eye Fatigue

Occasionally suffering from eye fatigue can be annoying but manageable. We’ve mentioned before how lifestyle can impact eye health. These small changes can make a big difference in alleviating eye fatigue symptoms. If your symptoms get worse, it’s always best to schedule an eye examination and rule out any underlying causes. 

Practice good eyelid hygiene

Your eyelids are the shield that protects your eyes from the outside world and infections such as conjunctivitis and pink eye. You may have a great skincare routine and pay attention to your dental hygiene, but what about your eyes?

Tired eyes can benefit from a relaxing warm compress at night and refreshing eyelid wipes in the morning. A CorneaCare cold compress is soothing if your eyes feel inflamed during a long day. You can make wipes and compresses at home, or purchase convenient pre-packaged CorneaCare eyelid wipes. Everyone can benefit from establishing a daily eyelid hygiene regimen as part of their overall health and wellness.⁶

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Refresh eyes with artificial tears

If your eyes feel fatigued, you are likely experiencing eye dryness as well. Artificial tears, or eye drops, can be beneficial in replenishing your tears and increasing comfort throughout the day. Eye drops can be made with preservatives or in preservative-free form. They may also contain emollients (fats or oils such as mineral, flaxseed or castor oil) or demulcents (water-soluble polymers).

You may need to try a few different eye drops before finding the one that works for you. It’s also important to consistently use one artificial tear for a few weeks before trying another.⁷ If you aren’t sure of the best artificial tear for you, ask your eye doctor to suggest one for you.

Give your eyes a rest

In addition to making sleep a priority, make sure to give your eyes proper breaks while working and performing tasks during the day. You’ve heard that standing every hour while working is good for your health. What about your eyes? Giving your eyes a break includes remembering to blink often and practicing the 20-20-20 rule.

When you’re working on a digital screen, remember to take a break after 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.⁴ This allows your eyes to refocus. If you work outside or even drive for most of the day, you may want to consider sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV)-blocking lenses to prevent squinting. 

The Role of Nutrition in Preventing Eye Fatigue

Your diet plays a significant role in maintaining eye health and preventing fatigue. Eating a variety of foods rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc can help support eye function and reduce strain. Fatty fish, leafy greens, carrots, and citrus fruits are excellent choices for nourishing your eyes. CorneaCare eye vitamins can help you fill any nutritional gaps in your daily diet.⁹

Staying hydrated is equally important, as dehydration can exacerbate dryness and tiredness in your eyes. A well-balanced diet, paired with proper hydration, complements other lifestyle changes and ensures your eyes have the support they need to function optimally throughout the day.⁹

Why Do My Eyes Feel Tired FAQ

Putting It All Together

Your eyes can feel tired for many reasons. Your daily habits and activities heavily impact your eye health. While many of us cannot avoid our jobs or put off household chores, we can practice simple steps like practicing good eyelid hygiene, using artificial tears, giving our eyes proper rest breaks, and visiting our doctor for regular eye exams.

Our goal at CorneaCare is to empower you to take control of your eye health. When your eyes feel good (and rested), you can focus on living a productive and happy life. 

What’s Next

Interested in other ways to expand your eye wellness routine? Check out more tips on our Eye Health & Wellness blog.

The post Why Do My Eyes Feel Tired? appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Keeping your eyes healthy at work is an important step in your overall dry eye treatment plan.

Key Points

• The Prevent Blindness non-profit organization declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month.
• Because of the amount of time spent at work, taking care of your eyes at work is important in overall eye healthcare, as well as in your dry eye treatment plan.
• Maintaining good workplace eye health and eye safety is crucial in optimizing productivity and having a good quality of life.

Workplace Eye Wellness Month

At CorneaCare we believe that dry eye disease (DED) is more than just dry eyes! As we’ve shared before, dry eye disease directly impacts your daily life. And as you’ve likely experienced, our jobs directly impact our quality of life.

Good eye health is crucial to being able to function at home and at work. We are happy to join others in the eye health industry in declaring March “Workplace Eye Wellness Month”.¹ Because of the prevalence of blue light, digital screens and environmental factors in the workplace, eye safety at work is important in your overall dry eye treatment plan.

Our goal at CorneaCare is not just to help treat your dry eyes, but to treat the whole you, which includes your work life. We want to give you the tools and skills to be productive and happy at work and beyond.

A Quick Review of Dry Eye Disease

Before we explore how DED is connected to Workplace Eye Wellness Month, let’s review some dry eye basics. DED is also known as dry eye syndrome, ocular surface disease and keratoconjunctivitis sicca.² The main causes of dry eyes are aqueous deficient (decreased tear production) and evaporative (rapid tear evaporation). 

With aqueous deficient dry eye disease, your lacrimal glands don’t produce enough tears to lubricate the eye surfaces (the cornea and conjunctiva). With evaporative DED, your body produces enough of your own tears, but they evaporate too quickly because your tear film is unstable.

Common dry eye symptoms include burning, pain, tearing or watery eyes, redness, grittiness, dryness, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, irritation, and eye fatigue. DED is a chronic condition.

Your symptoms may get better or worse, but you will typically have dry eyes for life. Some environmental factors can exacerbate dry eyes, like living, working or traveling to dry climates, air pollution, indoor air conditioning and high winds. Workplace and lifestyle risk factors, like extended use of digital screens (laptops, tablets and smartphones) and poor nutrition (low in vitamin A, lipids, and healthy fats and minerals), can worsen dry eyes and lead to vision problems.

Living with Dry Eye Disease

Even though dry eye disease does not cause vision loss directly, it increases the risk for many vision-threatening complications. Taking care of your eyes at work, and starting dry eye treatments sooner rather than later is important to avoid long-term damage.

There are various treatment options for dry eyes. These include over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears, gels, or ointments, and eyelid hygiene, including warm compresses and eyelid wipes. Other OTC options include oral supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, humidifiers, and air purifiers. If the OTC options don’t work, prescriptions and procedures for dry eyes are also available.  

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DED is a complex condition with many causes and symptoms. The good news is you have several options for treatment. With the proper routine and support, you can thrive at home and at work with dry eye disease.

What is Workplace Eye Wellness Month?

Companies across the US have joined together in declaring March “Workplace Eye Wellness Month”. This movement aims to raise awareness of eye strain due to digital devices and provide tips on ways to minimize the harmful effects of increased time spent in front of screens. 

Because the environmental factors present in the workplace can affect dry eye, we are happy to join others in bringing attention to eye health in the workplace. Not only can good eye hygiene and safety practices prevent blindness long term, but they contribute to an overall eye wellness plan to help employees enjoy their time at work and stay productive.

We all know the feeling of having tired, dry and burning eyes after staring at a screen for too long. With simple tips, you can alleviate the symptoms associated with eye strain and continue with your important work.

Even more, it’s important to bring attention to serious hazards in the workplace that can lead to severe eye injuries. The first step in preventing eye injury and maintaining your eye health is being aware of the environment in which you work. Educate yourself about proper eye protection and when to seek medical attention. 

Work-related Eye Injuries

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), thousands of workers are blinded each year due to workplace injuries.³ While Workplace Eye Wellness Month aims to bring awareness to eye damage caused by computer vision syndrome and digital eye strain, it’s important to note that work-related eye injuries can occur in many occupations that don’t require heavy screen time.⁴

Construction workers, heavy machinery operators and manufacturing employees experience some of the highest rates of work-related eye injuries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) site that the most common causes of eye injuries in these fields include scrapes, burns and poking or penetration.⁵ Dust, debris, harmful radiation and building materials such as cement, wood and small pieces of metal can harm the eyes if employees do not wear proper eye and face protection.

For those of us who sit in front of a computer each day, eye injuries can be less abrupt, but just as damaging over time. Working on a computer often means their eyes don’t get enough rest, tend to blink less, and may experience vision impairment over time. These can impact dry eye disease and contribute to or worsen dry eye symptoms. 

Workplace Eye Safety Tips

Thanks to organizations bringing awareness to workplace eye wellness, many eye injuries and damage can be prevented. A proper hazard assessment helps employers understand the hazards that affect workers and plan accordingly.

Safely protecting your eyes from damage is one important step you can take to reduce the effects of dry eye disease and maintain your overall eye wellness. Remember, treating your dry eye disease affects your whole body, mind and daily quality of life!

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The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) released updated guidelines for eye safety at work due to the increase in eye injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic.⁶ Because so many workers have gone into new workforces where they may be unaware of work-related eye injuries, it’s more important than ever to ensure each workplace has an eye safety program put into place for eye injury prevention.

For especially hazardous work environments, the AAO suggests face shields, protective eyewear, welding helmets, full-face respirators and goggles. These tools can help prevent flying debris and dust from irritating and damaging your eyes. Safety eyewear, including prescription safety glasses, should be worn anytime you’re around flying objects, dust or small particles. 

Because blue light from screens can be an eye hazard, many specialists suggest wearing blue-light-blocking glasses. Available in prescription or non-prescription form, blue light glasses can prevent digital eye strain. While blue light glasses can help reduce eye strain and eye fatigue, you may still experience symptoms of dry eyes. A good eye hygiene plan is essential in managing your dry eye symptoms.

Taking timed breaks from digital screens and placing computer screens at or below eye level can make a big difference. Increasing font size and using the accessibility features on your devices can help reduce eye strain and eye fatigue.

Get regular eye exams to ensure your eyewear is adjusted correctly and you’re not straining to read, drive or perform essential functions of your job. 

What to Do if Your Eyes are Injured at Work

Although there are several ways to keep your eyes safe at work, unfortunately, accidents can happen. Injuries can range from minor to severe. As the patient, you may not know how bad your injury is. If you suspect or know that your eyes have been injured at work, it’s important to seek help from an eye care professional who may recommend medical treatment. 

Because dry eyes can worsen due to injury and long-term use of digital screens, we recommend working with an eyecare professional to diagnose any immediate issues and develop a plan to treat them. They should be able to help you develop a long-term strategy for taking care of your eyes.

A doctor-recommended strategy combined with lifestyle and hygiene modifications can significantly improve your eye health and dry eye symptoms. 

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Workplace Eye Wellness Month FAQ

Putting It All Together

We hope that you’ll join us in raising awareness for Workplace Eye Wellness during Workplace Eye Wellness Month. Your eyes can be exposed to dangers in the workplace, but there are ways to stay safe.

Talk to your employer if you are concerned about hazardous eye situations at work. Ask for help coming up with a solution for your eye health. If you do experience an eye injury at work, seek help right away from a trusted eye care professional. 

Keeping your eyes healthy at work is an important step in your overall dry eye treatment plan. We want you to find joy in what you do every day, and that includes your daily activities and productivity at work.

What’s Next

Want to learn more about dry eye disease and overall eye health? We recommend taking our Dry Eye 101 course!

If you’ve already taken it, amazing! Check out more articles in the Continuing Education section below.

The post March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Trips to the beach are exciting for families. The ocean draws adults and kids alike to its shores to play, relax and recharge. However, many parents worry that their little kids or babies will get sand in the eye while enjoying the beach. 

Getting sand in your eye is annoying and can cause some pain. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the beach, or have little kids that enjoy playing in a sandbox or will be visiting the shore, this article will go over what to do if sand makes its way into the eyes. 

Key Points

• Getting sand in the eye is often not vision-threatening. 
• Sometimes a feeling of sand in the eye results from a foreign body sensation from other eye conditions. 
• Prepare your eyes for a trip to the beach by packing eye care essentials that can come in handy when you don’t have access to a drug store. 

Eye Care at the Beach

As you continue to make eye care a part of your self-care, consider preparing your eyes like you would the rest of your body when venturing outside or somewhere new. You wouldn’t take a trip somewhere sunny and not bring sunscreen or go on a hike without hiking shoes, right? 

With your eyes, you’ll want to consider the air quality, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) index, water exposure, and any small foreign objects that can make their way to your eyes. These environmental factors can affect your visual comfort and safety, ultimately impacting your trip or experience.

Sand, although seemingly harmless, can cause issues if it gets into your eye (or a child’s eye) and is left untreated. While sand in the eye is not vision-threatening, it’s still something to consider as you are preparing to visit a beach. 

The first thing is to recognize symptoms for yourself and your kids so that you can take action immediately before any scratches or infections occur. 

Symptoms of Sand in the Eye

You may immediately realize that you have sand in the eye, or it may take several hours to notice. One tiny, fine grain of sand can be as small as 0.02 mm.¹ While that seems insignificant, small foreign objects can easily disrupt the eye’s intricate systems.

If you suspect you or your kids have sand in the eye, look for:²

• Eye pain
• Excessive tearing
• Feeling like you need to keep your eye closed
• Red eyes
• Itching and irritation

You may experience these same symptoms with other foreign objects in the eye, such as an eyelash. 

If the foreign object doesn’t get out of the eye, it can scratch the cornea (the clear part of the eye in front of your iris) and cause a corneal abrasion. This may cause a significant worsening of your symptoms and put you at risk of developing an infection.

What to Do When Sand Gets in the Eye

Your eyes may flush out the small piece of sand on their own when you blink and produce tears.³ Still, the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises following a few simple steps (and shares what not to do) when you get sand or another small particle, like dust, debris, or an eyelash in your eye.³

Remember to always wash your hands before touching your eye. 

1. First, remove your contact lenses (if you wear them). 
2. Blink several times to try to flush the particle out naturally.
3. Avoid rubbing your eye, and do not use anything to try to remove the object (like tweezers or a cotton swab). 
4. Gently pull your upper eyelid over your lower lid. This will allow your eyelashes to get to work and brush the object out.
5. If these steps do not work it out, you can use a saline solution, artificial tears, clean water (unopened bottled water), or eyewash to try to flush it out.

If you still feel the particle, you may need to see an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) or go to the emergency room to rule out a corneal abrasion or other eye problem. The doctor will perform a simple eye exam and may send you home with antibiotic drops to prevent infection.³

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When Kids Get Sand in Their Eye

Again, most of the time, the eye does a great job of flushing out small particles. However, kids may be more prone to panicking and won’t be able to exert as much self-control to prevent rubbing their eyes. 

If sand gets into your child’s eye, instruct the child not to touch their eyes and to wash their hands.² If they are old enough to understand the eyelid trick, instruct them to gently pull the upper lid over the lower eyelid.

For toddlers and babies, you may want to just try flushing the eye yourself. You can use saline solution, artificial tears, eyewash, or small drops from an unopened bottle of water. 

Gently tilt your child’s head back and gently open their eye. Squirt several drops into their eye to flush out the particle.² 

Always seek medical attention from a healthcare provider if you feel that your child is still excessively blinking, tearing or rubbing their eyes after a day or so.

When it Might Not Be Sand: Foreign Body Sensation

If you’ve not been near a beach but still feel like you have sand in your eye, you may be experiencing foreign body sensation.⁴

Several eye conditions can lead to foreign body sensation. Often, other symptoms accompany the sensation. For example, dry eye disease causes a gritty feeling for some people, making them feel like something is in their eye. However, dry eye disease patients often experience symptoms like watery eyes, itchy eyes, redness, pain, and blurred vision, in addition to foreign body sensation.⁴

Other eye conditions that may cause foreign body sensation include:³ ⁴

• Corneal abrasion: a scratch on the cornea from trauma or foreign object in the eye.
• Sjögren’s Syndrome: An autoimmune condition that also causes dry mouth and dry eyes 
• Ulcers: An open sore on the surface of the eye (cornea). You can develop an ulcer from infections. Corneal abrasions put you at risk for ulcers.
• Blepharitis: Irritation and inflammation of the eyelids, leading to flaking and crusting on the lashes. 
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye): Inflammation of the conjunctiva that covers the cornea, typically caused by bacterial or viral infections or eye allergies. 
• Chalazion/stye: Clogged meibomian glands that form a lump on the eye, and can get inflamed.
• Pinguecula and pterygium (surfer’s eye): Yellow-colored growths on the eye that result from UV exposure, wind and dust.

Preparing Your Eyes for a Beach Trip

The last thing you want to experience while visiting the beach is an eye problem. When your eyes are irritated, it’s hard to enjoy your time outside and go sightseeing.

When you pack your bag for the beach, here are a few things to throw in your eye care bag (you have one, right?!).

Saline Solution, Eyewash and Eye drops

As we’ve learned, having something to flush out your eyes if sand gets in them is essential. You can find saline solution, artificial tears and eyewash at your local drug store. The sun, salt and sand can cause dry eyes. Eye drops will help replenish your tears and provide lubrication.

Eyelid Wipes

After a day at the beach, your eyelids may feel a little crusty from saltwater, sunscreen or even from a little sunburn (though we hope you are using eye protection!). You may also have fine sand trapped on your eyelashes that may fall into your eyes! 

CorneaCare’s Rise eyelid wipes are very travel-friendly! They come in individually-wrapped packs that you can take with you anywhere. Rise wipes gently remove eyelid buildup with plant botanical extracts like tea tree oil and hyaluronic acid to leave your eyes feeling refreshed and ready for another day at the beach. 

Rise

Eyelid Wipes

Perfect for eye dryness, itching, burning, and crusting/flaking of eyelashes. Free shipping

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Cold and Warm Compresses

Depending on your preferences and eye conditions, bringing disposable warm and cold compresses is an excellent idea. 

While you may not want to use a warm compress on the beach, you may enjoy using it at night if you are still experiencing a gritty sensation or your eyes feel especially dry and irritated. CorneaCare’s Rest warm compress eye mask is a great on-the-go option. There’s no microwave needed and the compress stays warm for up to 30 minutes! 

Rest

Warm Compresses

Perfect for eye dryness, fatigue, tearing, and puffiness of the eyelids. Free shipping .

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Cold compresses are great to use if your eyes need a break during a beach day or at night to soothe sunburnt or dry eyelids. However, it is tricky to keep a washcloth cold or prevent ice from melting on the beach! CorneaCare’s Rescue hydrogel cold compresses are self-cooling and provide cooling for up to 15 minutes. They are also individually wrapped and made with plant extracts and menthol for instant soothing relief. 

Rescue

Cold Compresses

Perfect for sudden flare-ups of eye dryness, pain, burning, and swollen/inflamed eyelids. Free shipping .

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Sunglasses and Hat

Most people remember their sunglasses and hat before hitting the beach, but if you need a reminder, here it is! Shielding your eyes from ultraviolet rays is essential to long-term eye health. You’ll also protect the skin around your eyes and face from sun damage, premature aging and skin cancers, a win-win!

Putting It All Together

While no one wants to get sand in their eyes, it happens. Luckily, your eyes are smart, and will take care of it on their own. By preparing your eyes for a beach trip, you can tackle a minor inconvenience like sand in the eye. Bringing some self-care tools for your eyes like wipes and compresses is great, too. After all, your eyes work hard and deserve a vacation as well. Now go have fun!

What’s Next

Read on to learn how to Keep your Eyes Safe from Sun Damage.

The post What To Do if You or Kids Get Sand in the Eye  appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Eyelash extensions are a convenient way to beautify and lengthen the eyelashes. Instead of fumbling with self-adhesive drug-store false eyelashes and glue, you can see a professional who can apply them for you, and they last longer. The problem is that some people experience problems, like blepharitis, from eyelash extensions. 

We hate to be the ones to rain on your beauty parade, but it’s important to know the facts before considering any procedure that involves your eye area (and the rest of your body, too). 

If you are thinking about getting eyelash extensions, read on. Learn more about blepharitis and why some people experience it after getting eyelash extensions. If you’re already suffering from blepharitis from eyelash extensions, we’ll share some ways to treat your eyelids. 

Key Points

• Eyelash extensions can be safe, but carry some risks to the eyelids, like blepharitis.
• You can keep your eyes safe from complications by ensuring your lashes are applied by a professional in a proper setting. 
• Eyelid hygiene and other treatments are available if you develop blepharitis from eyelash extensions.

Considering Eyelash Extensions

Before making any decisions that involve your eyes, eyelids or eyelashes, it’s best to know the facts. You should never have to sacrifice comfort for beauty! Education is key in making informed decisions for your health. 

If you are considering eyelash extensions, educate yourself on the procedure and the short and long-term risks. While we understand it’s appealing to lengthen your lashes to achieve a glamorous look, this procedure may come at a price. 

“Getting eyelash extensions is a personal choice, but take the necessary steps to avoid any eye complications, namely blepharitis,” says Ophthalmologist Jovi Boparai, MD. “Be sure your salon uses the best ingredients that are safe for your eyes, and the procedure is done under sanitary conditions. Practicing good eyelid hygiene with eyelid wipes and warm compresses can also help treat and protect against blepharitis.”

Understanding Blepharitis

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids and is very common. There are various reasons why the eyelids become inflamed. 

One form of blepharitis, anterior blepharitis, occurs because of bacterial growth.¹ Everyone has bacteria on the base of the eyelashes, but some people have excess. This excess bacteria can lead to infection and inflammation.¹ 

Anterior blepharitis can also happen because of Demodex, a microscopic mite that lives inside the eyelash follicles.² While Demodex lives naturally on our skin, in some individuals, they can over-populate. This infestation can lead to problems resulting in blepharitis. 

Individuals experience posterior blepharitis from clogged oil glands (meibomian gland dysfunction).¹ People with rosacea and dandruff are more likely to experience posterior blepharitis.¹ 

Additionally, if you suffer from eye allergies (allergic conjunctivitis) or wear contact lenses, you are more likely to develop blepharitis.¹

Blepharitis is a leading cause of dry eye disease, a chronic condition caused by unstable tears. Dry eye disease is different from just occasionally experiencing dry eyes. With dry eye disease, symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life, like work and socializing. Over time, this contributes to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 

The comfort of your eyes affects your entire well-being, which is why it’s important to know how to keep them feeling good. 

Common Symptoms of Blepharitis

Blepharitis symptoms tend to be worse in the morning but can occur anytime during the day.³ 

Symptoms of blepharitis include:

• Red, swollen eyelids
• Dry eyes
• Crusting eyelashes
• Flaky skin around the eye
• Flaking of the eyelashes
• Itchy eyelids
• Eyelids that “stick” together
• Light sensitivity
• Gritty or burning sensation
• Blurry vision in some cases

Lash Extensions: What to Expect

Eyelash extensions can come in synthetic, silk or mink and in various sizes, shapes and thicknesses.⁴ Avoid materials that are allergens for you. 

Only a licensed technician in a clean salon should apply lash extensions. They’ll use sterile tweezers and special glue for application on the skin. The whole procedure can take up to two hours where you’ll remain lying down with your eyes closed.⁴

Eye Complications from Lash Extensions

In medical research on eyelash extensions, blepharitis accounts for 79% of complications after the procedure.⁵ Most of the complications from lash extensions are due to the glue that technicians use to apply the lashes to the eyelid follicles. However, infections can occur due to hygiene issues of the technician, tools or environment where the procedure is taking place.⁴ 

Most eyelash extension salons say that they use “safe” glue. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate eyelash glue.⁴

The glue adheres the lash extension to the natural lash at the base. It contains chemicals like cyanoacrylate, latex and ammonia.⁵ Formaldehyde is a by-product of these chemicals. Studies show that formaldehyde and the above chemicals can cause mild to severe contact dermatitis (allergic reaction on the skin), keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva), and blepharitis.⁵ 

Other complications can arise because of poor eyelid hygiene following the procedure. It may be difficult to properly cleanse the eyelids and remove eye makeup, especially mascara and eyeliner. Makeup can build up in the hair follicles and lead to infections and symptoms of blepharitis.⁵ 

Eyelash Extensions Best Practices 

The best way to prevent blepharitis from eyelash extensions is to do your research, observe the salon environment and follow eyelid hygiene post-procedure. 

• Check reviews – what do other customers say about their experience?
• Observe the room or environment for any noticeable hygiene issues. The technician should sanitize any tools that will touch your face.
• Technicians should have a cosmetic license (required in most states in the U.S.).
• Technicians should wear gloves or wash their hands immediately before touching your skin.
• Ask for an ingredient list for the glue and any other products that will touch your skin. Check for any allergens. 
• Cleanse your eyelids daily using a safe lash cleanser or wipe. CorneaCare’s Rise Eyelid Wipes are the perfect addition to your lash extension journey. They contain rejuvenating plant-based ingredients like hyaluronic acid and tea tree oil. Rise wipes gently remove build-up and leave the eyelids refreshed.
• Apply a warm compress to your eyes nightly following the procedure. A warm compress, like CorneaCare’s Rest Self-Heating Warm Compress, will help keep the oil (meibum) in your eyelid glands soft. This will help prevent build-up or clogged ducts. 
• Remove contact lenses before the eyelash procedure. 
• Do NOT remove lashes on your own, even if a reaction occurs. You could damage your eyes. See an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) immediately. 

Treating Blepharitis from Eyelash Extensions

We’re here to tell you that if you contract blepharitis from eyelash extensions, you can typically treat symptoms at home. 

Practicing good eyelid hygiene is the key to keeping blepharitis symptoms at bay. Eyelid hygiene includes eyelid wipes in the morning to remove build-up, a cold compress throughout the day when you experience flare-ups and a warm compress at night to wind down and relax the eyelid glands.⁴

Your eye doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment, eye drops or oral medicine to treat the bacteria.⁴

Eyelid Wipes for Blepharitis

Eyelid cleansing is important for anyone, not just those suffering from blepharitis. We mentioned it is good to cleanse your eyes after eyelash extension application to prevent build-up. While your eyelash salon may recommend using baby shampoo to cleanse lashes, most eye doctors don’t recommend that. 

If you do end up experiencing symptoms of blepharitis, cleansing your lids with a safe wipe is a convenient and efficient way to remove build-up and reduce inflammation. 

CorneaCare’s Rise Eyelid Wipes use hyaluronic acid and tea tree to combat blepharitis, leaving your eyes hydrated and radiant. 

Rise

Eyelid Wipes

Perfect for eye dryness, itching, burning, and crusting/flaking of eyelashes. Free shipping

Try today - $25

Cold Compress for Blepharitis

If you experience blepharitis symptom flare-ups, your eyes probably feel inflamed. A cold compress is a great way to soothe and cool the eyes to feel some relief. 

CorneaCare’s Rescue Self Cooling Hydrogel Cold Compresses are formulated with natural plant extracts and provide immediate cooling relief for 15 minutes. No freezer needed!

Rescue

Cold Compresses

Perfect for sudden flare-ups of eye dryness, pain, burning, and swollen/inflamed eyelids. Free shipping .

Try today - $12

Warm Compress for Blepharitis

A warm compress is a great way to treat blepharitis symptoms because it will help to loosen the meibum in the meibomian glands that line the eyelids.⁷ This helps the glands to open and allows for a smoother passage of oils, which leads to less build-up.⁷ 

As an alternative to microwaving a sock filled with uncooked rice, or wetting a cloth with hot water, you can choose to use a premade warm compress. CorneaCare’s Rest Self-Heating Warm Compress is a great way to wind down at night, wherever you are. Each compress is individually wrapped and stays warm for up to 30 minutes. No microwave needed! 

Rest

Warm Compresses

Perfect for eye dryness, fatigue, tearing, and puffiness of the eyelids. Free shipping .

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FAQs

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, the choice to get eyelash extensions is yours. Yes, there are risks, but you have to decide if those risks outweigh the benefits of having beautiful, long lashes. However, we think your eyes are beautiful just as they are!

No matter your decision, making eyecare a part of your self-care should be a priority. We are born with only one set of eyes and we use them every day to do every single task (yes, even sleep!). 

Practicing good eyelid hygiene is a tool you can use to prevent and treat many common eye conditions to help you live a happy and fulfilling life. 

All Rounder

Eyelid Hygiene Plan 3

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What’s Next

Curious what else you should be doing to care for your eyes? Learn more by visiting our Eye Health and Wellness blog.

The post Blepharitis from Eyelash Extensions: Tips & Relief appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Ah, summer. The season most people love because of the long days, sunshine, trips to the pool, and warm nights. But with warm weather comes all of the bugs from their winter hiding places, and the risk of getting a mosquito bite on your eyelid. 

One of the most pervasive insects is the seemingly frail mosquito. For most people, a mosquito bite on the eyelid or other part of the body is irritating at best for a few days. But these little flies (the literal Spanish translation) kill over 1 million people yearly due to the diseases they carry, making them the world’s deadliest insect.¹  

Luckily, mosquito-borne illnesses are relatively low in the United States, as only 12 of the over 200 species of mosquitoes spread germs that make people sick.¹

For awareness of how bug bites affect the eyes, this article explains what happens if you get a mosquito bite on your eyelid, how to know it’s not something else, and what to do to get relief from the irritation.

Key Points

• Getting a mosquito bite on your eyelid is typically not a very serious eye injury. 
• Some groups, like young children and people with compromised immune systems, may experience more intense symptoms.
• You can usually treat these types of bug bites on your eyelid quickly and easily at home.  

What Happens When a Mosquito Bites You

Maybe you’ve been bitten hundreds of times by mosquitoes but aren’t really sure why they cause the reaction they do in your body. 

Mosquitoes are blood-sucking flies. They use the pointy part of their mouth, called a proboscis, to suck blood from their victim.² When they bite and begin sucking blood, they inject some of their saliva into the skin. The saliva is what causes your body to react with an immune response that causes swelling and itching.² 

How to Know If You Have a Mosquito Bite On Your Eyelid

Most of us know what it feels like when a mosquito leaves its mark. But, when it comes to your eyes, you may not expect the bite to occur in that area and associate it with other eye conditions. 

If you’re concerned at all about unusual symptoms on your eyelids or the surrounding area, always consult with your eye doctor. They will rule out other eye conditions and determine if a bug bite is really the culprit.

Signs and Symptoms of Mosquito Bite on the Eyelid

With a mosquito bite, you’ll start to experience symptoms within minutes to a few hours after being bitten. 

When it comes to your eyelids, the skin is a bit more delicate, so you may experience more widespread eye swelling than you would on other parts of your body:²

• Small to medium-sized red bump within minutes after the bite
• Swollen eyelid
• Itching ranging from mild to intense
• Hard, red, or brownish bump a day or so after the bite
• Eventually, the bite spot may look like a blister with minimal itching

Rest

Warm Compresses

Perfect for eye dryness, fatigue, tearing, and puffiness of the eyelids. Free shipping .

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Possible Complications from Mosquito Bites on the Eyelid

Everyone has different reactions to bug bites. For some, a mosquito bite on the eyelid may trigger an allergic reaction, leading to intense swelling of the eyelids, red eyes, and eye pain. If you expose the bite area by scratching your skin, you could develop a bacterial infection, commonly referred to as cellulitis.³

Rare cases of mosquito bites can lead to more serious, widespread symptoms all over your body. If you are aware of mosquito disease outbreaks such as West Nile in your area, you should immediately see a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.  

Pediatric Mosquito Bites and Child Symptoms

Young children may experience bug bites and stings differently than adults. Because they have “young” immune systems, a mosquito bite may trigger a low grade fever, hives or swollen lymph nodes, in addition to mild swelling of eyelids and persistent itching.² 

This is because their bodies are still learning to respond effectively to foreign substances. Parents should monitor for any signs of infection, such as increased redness, warmth, or pus, which may indicate a secondary bacterial infection. Keeping the area clean and discouraging scratching can help reduce the risk of complications.

When it’s Not a Mosquito Bite: Similar Eye Problems

If you haven’t been outdoors or live in an area with a low mosquito population, similar symptoms might point to a different underlying issue. Eye conditions such as styes, chalazion, or even dry eye disease can mimic the swelling and discomfort caused by mosquito bites. Styes and chalazion typically involve red, tender bumps near the eyelid margin, close to the eyelashes, and may be accompanied by localized pain.

Dry eye disease, on the other hand, can cause general irritation, redness, and a gritty feeling in the eyes but lacks the itching typically associated with mosquito bites. Allergies are another potential cause, especially if both eyelids are affected and there’s sneezing or nasal congestion. Identifying the exact cause of your symptoms is crucial for proper treatment, so if the swelling doesn’t improve or worsens, consult an eye care professional.

Treating a Bug Bite on your Eyelid

You can follow a few simple home remedies for most eyelid insect bites to manage symptoms. If you or your child develops more severe symptoms around your eyes or other parts of your body, seek medical attention immediately to ensure the mosquito didn’t transmit a disease.

Clean the Area

Use a clean wet washcloth with mild soap or CorneaCare’s Rise eyelid wipes to gently clean the area and prevent bacteria from entering the wound.² 

Keep the area around the bug bite clean by wiping the eyelids once or twice a day until the bite irritation disappears.

Rise

Eyelid Wipes

Perfect for eye dryness, itching, burning, and crusting/flaking of eyelashes. Free shipping

Try today - $25

Use a Cold Compress

A cold wet compress on your eyelids may help reduce swelling and provide cooling relief from the itchiness.² After the initial bite, rest your eyes and use a cold compress a few times per day to help speed up recovery. You can use a cold pack from your freezer, but it may be hard to position on your eyelid. 

CorneaCare’s Rescue self-cooling cold compresses are great to keep on hand for situations like this! They require no refrigeration or freezing and provide cool comfort for up to fifteen minutes. Because they are individually wrapped, they’re perfect for traveling, camping, and venturing off to enjoy outdoor activities over the summer. 

Rescue

Cold Compresses

Perfect for sudden flare-ups of eye dryness, pain, burning, and swollen/inflamed eyelids. Free shipping .

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Try an Antihistamine

Some doctors recommend antihistamines (allergy medicine for itching like Benadryl) to relieve itching and swelling. You can take these orally or apply topically as a cream, depending on what your eye doctor recommends.² 

Keep in mind that some antihistamines can cause you to experience dry eye symptoms, so you may need to supplement with an artificial tear eye drop. If the eye redness is severe, you may consider using a long-acting vasoconstrictor eye drop, such as Visine, that constricts blood vessels in your eyes to reduce redness.⁴ 

However, these types of eye drops, especially when used on children, can cause a rebound effect. They can cause red eyes if used for multiple days. It’s best to limit their use to only one to two days after getting the bite.⁵

How to Prevent a Mosquito Bite on Your Eyelid

Although getting bit by a mosquito is not 100% avoidable, there are some steps you can take to lessen your chances of getting those itchy mosquito bites.²

• Avoid wearing strong perfumes or fragrances outside.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents (although be careful to avoid your eye area).
• Control mosquitoes from hanging around outside by covering or removing standing water.
• Avoid using bright lights near where you are located outdoors. 
• For children, ask your pediatrician how you can keep your child’s eyes safe while outside if you live in a high mosquito population.

Starter

Eyelid Hygiene Plan 1

Perfect for eye dryness, burning, itching, pain, crusting/flaking of eyelashes and inflamed eyelids. Free shipping .

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Mosquito Bite on the Eyelid FAQ

Putting It All Together

Insect bites are a nuisance for most people. When it comes to the sensitive skin around your eyes, it helps to know how to find relief quickly. It’s also good to know what to look for when it comes to children and others with compromised immune systems. 

Summertime is a season when the eyes are at risk for several injuries and problems. These may include insect bites, eye allergies, excessive sun exposure, sand in the eye, and even debris from fireworks. 

Being aware of eye dangers can keep your eyes safe so you can enjoy your summers more!

What’s Next

Want to learn more about keeping your and your child’s eyes safe and healthy all summer? These related articles on the Eye Health & Wellness blog can help:

• What To Do If You or Kids Get Sand in Your Eyes
• Treating and Preventing Firework Debris in the Eye
• What To Do If You Get a Mosquito Bite on the Eyelid

The post What to Do If You Get a Mosquito Bite on Eyelid  appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Myopia and hyperopia (refractive errors) are two common visual conditions that lead to children and adults not seeing clearly. Most people know them by the names that categorize what someone can see without glasses or contact lenses – nearsightedness aka myopia (can see near but not far) or farsightedness aka hyperopia (can see far, but not near). 

Many researchers believe both conditions are hereditary, though environmental and behavioral factors may contribute to the progression of the conditions. 

Here we’ll cover what refractive errors are, the differences between myopia vs. hyperopia and how you can take steps to care for your vision and possibly stop the conditions from worsening.

Key Points

• Myopia and hyperopia are eye problems caused by refractive errors due to the shape of the eye.
• With myopia, nearby objects are clear but objects in the distance are blurry, and with hyperopia, it’s the opposite.
• Both are vision problems that occur in childhood and are easily treated with corrective lenses.

Keywords

Hyperopia, farsightedness, myopia, nearsightedness, presbyopia, refractive errors

What is the Difference Between Myopia and Hyperopia?

While myopia and hyperopia are both refractive errors,they are quite different and require different treatments.

The main difference between myopia and hyperopia is that with myopia, you can see things up close, but not far away and with hyperopia, you can see far distance, but not up close, like for reading.¹ With astigmatism, your vision is blurry at all distances.

What are Refractive Errors?

It is estimated that over 150 million Americans have refractive errors.¹ Worldwide, about 43% of the population experiences visual impairment due to refractive errors.²

Refractive errors are visual conditions that cause difficulty seeing clearly, often resulting in blurry vision. The reason they occur is due to how the eye shape develops. With refractive errors, the eye shape impedes the light that should normally filter through (refract) to the retina and help you see.¹

Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia are all examples of refractive errors. While myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism typically present earlier in life, patients may also develop them later in life. For example, cataract progression may lead to developing myopia (a myopic-shift). Developing a pterygium or worsening keratoconus may induce astigmatism. Presbyopia, which is similar to hyperopia in that it affects mostly near vision, occurs after the age or 45-50, and is the result of cataract progression.

The good news is that refractive errors are treatable with contact lenses, glasses or refractive surgery, like LASIK. 

Myopia (Nearsightedness) Symptoms

With myopia, objects close up are clear, but objects like road signs, chalkboards, billboards, etc. that are further away are blurry. 

Nearsightedness occurs when light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it due to the shape of the eye, such as, when the eyeball grows too long from front to back.³

The onset of myopia is between ages six and 14 and progresses until your early twenties. Some research suggests that children who spend more time outdoors are less likely to have myopia, but experts aren’t clear why.³

If your parents, siblings or grandparents are nearsighted, you are at higher risk of myopia.³ 

Myopia Treatment

Since myopia typically begins in childhood, most eye doctors prescribe eyeglasses first to correct sight. 

Many people opt to use contact lenses later in childhood and into adulthood or get laser eye surgery, like LASIK, to change the shape of the cornea so that it can filter light correctly.³ Most recently, contact lenses have become available to slow the progression of myopia in children.

Rest

Warm Compresses

Perfect for eye dryness, fatigue, tearing, and puffiness of the eyelids. Free shipping .

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Hyperopia (Farsightedness) Symptoms

Like myopia, hyperopia (farsightedness) is also hereditary. With hyperopia, you have good distance vision, but objects up close are blurry. 

Hyperopia happens because the eye does not bend light properly and thus, the light ends up focusing behind the retina.⁴ 

Hyperopia is also a lifelong condition, often beginning at birth, though symptoms may not become apparent until later in childhood.⁵ Most childhood eye exams only check distant vision, often missing near vision eye problems.⁵

Some people confuse hyperopia with presbyopia, another refractive error that causes farsightedness. While hyperopia and presbyopia are both conditions that cause blurred vision when viewing objects up close, presbyopia is often age-related and progresses as you get older due to cataract progression.  

With hyperopia, children or adolescents may notice eye strain while using a computer, reading or generally having very tired eyes after a day of working. Some also experience frequent headaches (also due to eye strain). With undiagnosed hyperopia, eyes may ache or burn often or you feel irritable after sustained concentration that requires close reading or focus on objects.⁴

Hyperopia Treatment

Treatment options for hyperopia are similar to those for myopia. An eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) will prescribe corrective lenses like eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct the shape of the lens of the eye and allow light rays to pass through normally.⁴

Foundation

Eyelid Hygiene Plan 2

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Putting It All Together

Access to eye care early in childhood is critically important to lifelong eye health. Vision conditions like refractive errors are easily treatable and can greatly impact the quality of life and educational advancement of children and adolescents. 

Knowing the differences between myopia vs. hyperopia will allow you to advocate for your child (or yourself) when symptoms begin and a diagnosis is needed. 

What’s Next

Learn to love your eyes! Read more eye health and wellness tips on our blog.

The post Myopia vs. Hyperopia: Two Common Vision Conditions appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

While there is nothing to be ashamed of, early intervention is key to reversing amblyopia and its visual impairments. But, when is it too late to treat a lazy eye? 

In this article, we’ll explore what amblyopia is, what to look for in young children and what treatment options are available. 

Key Points

• Amblyopia, commonly known as a “lazy eye,” is an eye condition that affects about three in 100 children per year.
• Early diagnosis and intervention are critical in preventing long-term damage in the amblyopic eye. 
• While it’s never too late to treat amblyopia, older children and adults may experience visual problems in the amblyopic eye for life.

What is Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Amblyopia, also known as a “lazy” eye, affects three to five percent of children. The term “lazy” refers to an eye that is weaker than the stronger eye. It typically affects only one eye, but can affect both.²

Children with amblyopia may have poor depth perception (trouble telling the distance of objects). They may also experience vision problems resulting from other eye conditions causing amblyopia, like refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) or cataracts (clouding of the eye lens).² 

When does Amblyopia Appear?

Eye doctors (optometrists and ophthalmologists) diagnose most cases of amblyopia between three and five years of age, when they begin to perform routine eye exams. Some children are born with amblyopia, and some develop it later in childhood. 

Some risk factors for amblyopia include:²

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Family history of amblyopia or childhood cataracts
• Developmental disabilities like Down syndrome

Foundation

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Common Causes of Amblyopia

An amblyopic eye typically results from the brain relying on the “stronger” eye to see clearly and turning off the signals from the weaker eye. Over time, the stronger eye takes over and the weaker eye slows in development.²

Often, eye doctors don’t know the cause of amblyopia. Sometimes, other visual problems can lead to amblyopia.³ 

Strabismus 

Strabismus is when the eyes point in two different directions. 

With normal vision, or binocular vision, both eyes point in the same direction to see three-dimensional objects. With strabismus, one eye may be pointing straight while the other eye turns in a different direction, causing the child to see double.

To compensate for the non-focused eye, the child’s brain starts to ignore signals from the eye that’s not focused and relies on the eye that is straight to see clearly. While this may resolve the double vision, it weakens the non-focused eye.

Refractive errors 

Refractive errors are visual acuity issues like nearsightedness (far away objects are blurry), farsightedness (objects up close are blurry), or astigmatism (distorted or blurry vision at all distances due to the shape of the eye). When a refractive error is significantly worse in one eye, it may result in the stronger eye overcompensating and “turning off” the eye with the refractive error.

Cataracts 

While uncommon, children can develop cataracts, or be born with them. A cataract is when the eye lens is cloudy, thus impairing vision and leading to the stronger eye overcompensating and contributing to slower development of the weaker eye. 

Rescue

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What to Look for in Early Childhood Symptoms

Parents often have a hard time spotting amblyopia symptoms. Early intervention is essential so that it doesn’t become too late to treat a lazy eye.

Some older children may mention having trouble seeing, seeing double or having blurred vision. 

You may also notice that your child is often:²

• Squinting
• Using one eye to see (keeping the other eye shut)
• Tilting their head
• Clumsy or walks sideways often
• One eye may appear to “wander” or move independent of the other eye

In school-aged children, studies have shown that amblyopia leads to slower reading and testing skills, even when the amblyopic eye is slightly reduced in visual acuity.¹

Is it Too Late to Treat My Lazy Eye (Or My Child’s?)

Early intervention is absolutely critical to treat amblyopia and prevent long-term damage.

The good news is that eye doctors catch most cases of amblyopia early, thanks to several state-mandated visual screenings in daycares and preschools. However, almost half of the states in the United States do not require visual screening, leaving some children vulnerable to developing amblyopia symptoms.⁴ 

The longer the delay in treatment after onset of amblyopia, the more complicated the treatment becomes, and sometimes the damage is irreparable. The critical period for diagnosing and treating amblyopia to prevent long-term eye problems is between three and eight years of age.¹

Studies show that after about 17 years of age, it becomes almost impossible to treat amblyopia without more intense medical treatments or surgical intervention.¹

Treatment Options

Treatment of amblyopia will depend on the age and cause of the condition. 

Eye doctors will first attempt to treat the amblyopic eye by addressing the underlying cause if one is known. They may prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors or surgery to remove a cataract. These may be effective treatments on their own, requiring little or no additional intervention.²

In some cases, an optometrist may prescribe an eye patch as a form of vision therapy. The eye patch covers the dominant eye, allowing the weaker eye to gain strength and develop. 

For little kids, adapting to wearing an eye patch takes some time (and patience on the part of the parent!). Instead of eye patches with an elastic band, opt for ones that stick directly to the skin around the eye.³

Some amblyopia patients find that eye exercises like focused reading or doing a puzzle while wearing the patch may help improve their treatments. Eye doctors may also recommend using the “pencil pushups” technique, where you or your child holds a pencil arm’s length away from the face, looks directly at it, and slowly brings it into the center toward the nose, stopping when it becomes blurry. You can repeat this exercise multiple times throughout each day.⁵

If eye patches aren’t working, eye doctors may use a special eye drop called atropine to blur the dominant eye, forcing the amblyopic eye to work harder and get stronger.²

Putting It All Together

Pediatric eye care, like all children’s health concerns, should be addressed early to evaluate any vision conditions that need treatment. While treating amblyopia later in life is challenging, there are still ways to improve vision and care for your eyes overall, to prevent further damage or other conditions.

Having healthy eyes for life means addressing issues early, following a healthy lifestyle and receiving regular eye exams. It’s never too late to start.

What’s Next

Want to learn more about keeping your child’s eyes safe and healthy? Check out more related articles in our Eye Health and Wellness section.

The post When is it Too Late to Treat a Lazy Eye? appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Cataracts and glaucoma are two eye conditions that cause visual impairment but affect your eyes differently and require different treatments. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing vision problems, it’s good to know the differences between a cataract vs. glaucoma. However, an eye doctor will properly diagnose your condition and prescribe a treatment protocol. 

Here we explore what causes cataracts and glaucoma, cataract vs. glaucoma symptoms, and the unique treatment approaches each requires.

Key Points

• Cataracts and glaucoma can occur simultaneously and have similar risk factors.
• With cataracts, doctors can typically reverse vision loss, but when vision loss occurs due to glaucoma, the effects are permanent.
• Preventive measures to protect your eye health may help reduce visual impact of cataracts and glaucoma.

Keywords

Age-related eye conditions, cataracts, dry eye disease, eye health, eye surgeries, dry eye disease, glaucoma

Causes and Symptoms of Cataracts

Cataracts progress slowly due to normal aging of your eye. In some cases, they develop after an eye injury or surgery, but most cases are age-related.¹ 

Cataracts occur because proteins accumulate in the lens of the eye. This buildup ends up clouding the lens and causing visual disturbances or vision loss.¹

Some people report blurry vision or vision that is hazy or discolored at first, almost like a dusty or foggy car window.¹

Risk factors for cataracts 

The most common risk factors for cataract formation and progression are: ¹

• Being over 60 years of age
• Smoking cigarettes
• Consuming too much alcohol 
• Too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays
• Diabetes 
• A serious eye injury 
• Eye surgery like glaucoma surgery (and surgery for other eye conditions) 
• Medicines like steroids, if taken for a long time 
• Radiation treatment for cancer or other diseases

Cataract Treatment Options

With early detection, you may only need a new prescription to help you see better.¹ You may also find that using bright lights at home and wearing anti-glare sunglasses helps your vision.¹ 

If your cataract(s) is getting in the way of your daily activities, like working, driving or reading, you may need cataract removal surgery.¹  The good news is that ophthalmology and optometry have come a long way, making these surgeries readily available and highly successful.

In fact, over 90 percent of cataract surgeries are successful, leading to vision restoration for millions of people.²

I need cataract surgery — what can I expect?

If your eye doctor recommends cataract surgery, know you’re not alone! There are approximately 26 million cataract surgeries performed worldwide each year, and the number is growing.³ 

The procedure only takes about 20 minutes and you’ll be back home the same day.

Here’s what to expect during surgery:⁴

1. After numbing your eye, an eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) will remove the cloudy natural lens from your eye using tiny incisions. 
2. The doctor will replace your natural lens with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). 
3. You’ll leave the office with an eye patch to protect your eye as it heals. 

Following your eye doctor’s guidelines for follow-up eye exams and care is important. 

Cataract Surgery and Dry Eye Disease

Although cataract surgeries are safe and effective, they can lead to other non-vision-threatening eye conditions, like dry eye disease (DED). Several studies show high incidences of DED among cataract surgery patients with pre-existing dry eye symptoms and those without symptoms.⁵

The prevalence of DED after cataract surgery is due to the disruption in tear-film homeostasis from the surgery.⁵ 

It’s important to manage dry eye symptoms before and after surgery using some of the following methods to ensure proper healing of your eyes:⁵

• Lubricating your eyes with artificial tears
• Adding to or supplementing your diet with omega-3 fatty acids
• Using eyelid wipes and scrubs to remove buildup and keep your eyes clean
• Applying a warm compress to activate eyelid oil glands and cold compresses to reduce inflammation

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*Always check with your doctor to ensure that treatments align with your postoperative care plan.

How Glaucoma Differs from a Cataract

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause vision loss and is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.⁶ 

There are several types of glaucoma; however, open-angle glaucoma is the most common type in the United States.⁷

With glaucoma, people start to slowly lose their peripheral vision (side vision), especially on the inside corner of the eye closest to the nose.⁷ This loss of vision is caused by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but researchers aren’t sure what exactly causes the pressure to increase.⁷ 

The increased pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, which is critical in sending and receiving information back and forth to the brain.⁸ With a cataract, the damage is localized to the lens of the eye.

Glaucoma is similar to cataracts only in the population it affects, mainly older adults 60 years or older and people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. 

Less commonly, more severe eye and body symptoms occur with a type of glaucoma called angle-closure glaucoma. 

These symptoms include:⁷

• Headache and brow pain
• Intense eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Eye redness
• Blurred vision
• Swelling of the cornea
• Halos around lights

Glaucoma Treatment

Unfortunately, once vision damage has occurred with glaucoma, it can’t be reversed. 

There are treatments available to stop the progression of glaucoma, like eye drops and laser treatment to lower eye pressure. Still, some people require glaucoma surgery to drain the fluid from their eyes to release pressure. ⁷ 

Are Cataracts and Glaucoma Connected?

“While cataracts and glaucoma can occur at the same time, they are different entities with a few characteristics in common,” says Dr. Jovi Boparai, Ophthalmic Surgeon. “Common risk factors include increasing age, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. And sometimes, as cataracts progress, they may cause secondary glaucoma. However, the biggest difference is that vision loss from cataracts is typically reversible, while vision loss from glaucoma is not. So it’s very important to manage both timely and properly.”

You can experience a cataract and have glaucoma at the same time. Also, having cataracts may lead to glaucoma and having glaucoma surgery may lead to the development of a cataract because of changes that may occur with the pressure of the eye.⁸ 

Practicing Good Eye Care May Reduce Chances of Cataracts and Glaucoma

While you may not be able to prevent developing a cataract or glaucoma, some studies support the idea that making lifestyle changes and adhering to a healthy diet may reduce your chances of developing these diseases.⁹ 

It’s never too early or too late to implement healthy habits. If there’s even a slight chance they can save your vision and contribute to better health overall, it’s worth giving them a try. 

Here are a few ways you can get started in trying to prevent vision-threatening diseases:

1. Stop smoking. Because smoking is a risk factor for cataracts and for increased intraocular pressure (IOP) leading to glaucoma, giving up smoking should be first on your list if you’re a smoker.
2. Protect your eyes from the sun. Ultraviolet rays from the sun (and indoor tanning beds) contribute to vision problems down the road, like cataracts. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses when you’re outside is an easy way to protect your eyes from long-term damage. 
3. Focus on good nutrition. Research shows that eating a balanced diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, like omega-3 fatty acids can help fend off some of the major age-related eye diseases, like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. The vitamins and nutrients in whole foods help reduce inflammation, fight off free radicals that oxide (age) cells and keep your eyes lubricated.⁹
4. Bridge the gap with eye vitamins. We get it; eating the right mix of foods to ensure you get the right vitamins and minerals for eye and body health is complicated. Supplementing with vitamins is a great way to ensure you get all the nutrition you need — for your sight and your body. CorneaCare’s eye vitamins do just that. We formulated them so you can take one vitamin that accomplishes all of your eye care and general health needs without overdoing it.

Putting It All Together

Understanding the difference between cataracts vs. glaucoma is an important step to protecting and preserving your vision. 

With regular eye exams and healthy habits, you can prevent or detect these diseases early to avoid losing your vision completely.

What’s Next

Learn more ways to preserve your eye health! Read more eye health and wellness tips on our blog.

The post Cataract vs. Glaucoma: Main Differences appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.

Waking up every morning and reaching for your glasses may be a thing of the past with refractive eye surgery, of which LASIK eye surgery is the most common type. However, you may wonder, “Does LASIK hurt?” 

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK eye surgery has come a long way since its inception over twenty years ago. Ophthalmologists are highly trained in performing these surgeries, and the tools and technology used to perform the procedure are highly advanced. 

This article explains what LASIK is, what to expect before, during, and after surgery, and any pain or discomfort accompanying those stages. 

Key Points

• LASIK is a relatively pain-free procedure.
• You should expect some discomfort with LASIK, but adhering to good practices pre- and post-LASIK will help reduce the higher risk of severe symptoms. 
• Whether you choose LASIK surgery or not, adhering to good eye health practices will help preserve your vision. 

Taking the First Step: Understanding LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK is a type of refractive (vision correcting) eye surgery that uses lasers to correct vision problems.¹ Refractive errors occur when your eye does not refract (bend) light properly due to the shape of your eye.¹ LASIK treats three conditions: myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.¹

An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will perform the LASIK surgery in the office or at a surgical center and send you home the same day. LASIK only takes about 30 minutes and most individuals will heal completely within one week from surgery.

Am I Eligible for LASIK Surgery?

Before you start to worry about any pain associated with LASIK surgery, you should first assess whether or not you are a candidate for it. Some eye and health conditions prevent people from being able to benefit from the surgery. 

Your LASIK surgeon will perform a thorough health history and assessment before recommending you for LASIK surgery. 

You are likely eligible for LASIK if you:¹

• Are at least 18 years old. 
• Have not had an eye prescription change within the past year
• Have a vision problem that LASIK can fix (myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism)
• Have good overall eye health
• Do not have severe dry eye disease
• Do not have thin corneas or keratoconus (cone-shaped cornea)
• Do not have advanced glaucoma or cataracts
• Are not pregnant
• Do not have uncontrolled diabetes or other serious health conditions
• Cannot stare at a fixed object, such as a light, for 60 seconds²

This is not a complete list but will give you a sense of your general eligibility. Your ophthalmologist will make the final decision on your candidacy for LASIK. 

Does LASIK Hurt Before, During, or After LASIK Eye Surgery?

Keep in mind that your eye doctor or LASIK team will provide you with everything you need to do to prepare for your procedure. However, it’s good to know what to expect at each stage. In general, you should not experience any pain throughout the process, but you should expect some discomfort during your recovery. 

A good eyelid hygiene routine leading up to and after surgery will benefit your eyes in the long run. CorneaCare’s eyelid hygiene routines are a great way to prepare your eyes for the upcoming surgery and recovery (of course, always check first with your doctor). 

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We break down the steps involved in LASIK surgery and any associated discomfort.

Preparing for Surgery

The preparation for LASIK surgery occurs weeks before the actual procedure. Because your eye tissue will be exposed during surgery, there are certain precautions to take when preparing for LASIK. 

• Remove contact lenses a few weeks before your pre-procedure evaluation. 
• Be specific with your doctor about any past or current medical conditions and medications you are taking.
• Stop using lotions, creams, perfumes and makeup the day before surgery. Be sure to remove any residue left on your lashes from mascara or eye makeup. Eyelid wipes like CorneaCare’s Rise Wipes are great for removing buildup before surgery!
• Arrange for transportation to and from your procedure and follow-up appointment, which occurs 1-2 days after surgery.  

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Will I Experience Pain During Surgery? 

You should not experience pain during a LASIK procedure. Like with most surgeries, the LASIK surgeon will use an anesthetic. They will place numbing eye drops in your eye.² To keep your eyelids open, the doctor will use a tool called a lid speculum.² You may experience a feeling of pressure due to the suction ring the eye doctor uses to keep your eye from moving.¹ 

Your specific situation will determine if the ophthalmologist uses a laser or a small blade called a microkeratome to make a paper-thin flap on the top tissue layer of the cornea.¹ Once the incision is made, your doctor will lift the flap to access the inner part of your cornea.¹ Though this sounds a bit terrifying, you should not feel any of it. 

The doctor will reshape your cornea using a laser specifically programmed with your eye measurements.¹ Some people report a burning smell.² This is normal because of the heat from the laser but should not cause you pain. You may also hear a clicking sound from the laser.² Again, this is completely normal and expected.

After your doctor reshapes the cornea, they will fold the tissue flap back into position.² What’s so cool about our eyes is their ability to self-heal! The flap attaches on its own after about two to three minutes to start the healing process.¹

To finish, your ophthalmologist will place a shield over your eye to protect it in the days that follow and to prevent you from rubbing or touching your eye.¹ 

What Should I Expect During Recovery?

You may experience side effects such as burning, dryness, itching or a feeling that something is in your eye after LASIK.¹ Your doctor will send you home with special eye drops to reduce irritation, and inflammation and to promote healing.² They will advise you on how often and how much to use. 

It is normal for your eyes to be hazy and blurry post-LASIK.² Remember, this is only temporary, and your vision will improve each day. You may also have sensitivity to light and see halos around lights.² These symptoms will also likely subside during recovery. 

Do not under any circumstances touch or rub your eye. Call your doctor’s office to rule out any issues if the urge is severe. 

Your follow-up visit usually occurs within 24-48 hours after surgery. At this time, your doctor will remove the protective shield and examine your eye, as well as test your vision.²

Most eye doctors will recommend avoiding any hazardous activities in the weeks following your surgery. These include sports and occupational hazards. They may also advise waiting two weeks or more before applying makeup or creams to the eye area to prevent infection.²

Post-LASIK Dry Eye Symptoms

Most patients will experience some degree of dry eye symptoms after surgery. These can include a gritty sensation, burning, excessive tearing, redness and dryness.⁴

While most symptoms go away after a few months, some people will experience dry eye symptoms for the rest of their life. 

Those with pre-existing dry eye disease symptoms are more likely to experience symptoms post-operatively, but new dry eye symptoms can occur in those who didn’t previously have dry eyes. 

There are many ways to treat dry eyes. Still, the first step is assessing any lifestyle factors contributing to symptoms and implementing an eyelid hygiene routine before pursuing medical interventions like tear duct plugs or light therapy. We cover dry eye disease in depth in our free Dry Eye 101 Course. It’s a good starting point for anyone concerned about dry eye disease, regardless of LASIK surgery. 

When Will I Have Clear Vision?

Though you may notice positive changes to your eyesight right away, it could take three to six months for your vision to stabilize.² During this period, it will fluctuate often. 

While your eyes stabilize, you may experience halos and have difficulty seeing while driving at night. In some rare cases, vision does not improve, and your doctor may recommend re-operation.² 

Keep in mind that LASIK surgery has a 96-98% success rate, so failures are unlikely, but possible.⁴

Maintaining Your Newly Improved Vision

Once your eyes are healed, and your vision has improved, it’s time to focus on maintaining your eye health! After all, you’ve just invested a decent amount of money into correcting your vision. Make sure you take care of that investment by showing your eyes some love. 

How to Have Healthy Eyes for Life

There are so many ways to keep your eyes safe and healthy. Below are a few ways to start today, whether you are planning to have LASIK surgery or not. For more tips on keeping your eyes healthy throughout your life, we’ve put together a more comprehensive list here.

• Consider your eyelid hygiene routine as a part of your everyday self-care. Because your eyelids protect your vulnerable eyes, keeping them healthy is important. An eyelid hygiene routine includes: using warm compresses at night to stimulate tear production, and eyelid wipes to keep your eyes clean and prevent buildup from impacting your vision, and cold compresses throughout the day as needed to reduce inflammation. 
• Choose the proper artificial tears. Most people only reach for eye drops when they have eye allergies or dry eyes, but artificial tears can benefit your ongoing eye maintenance. There are many different artificial tears on the market, so it is best to consult with your doctor to choose the best ones for your eyes. 
• Eat a balanced diet. Studies show that a diet rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E can greatly improve eye health and even prevent some age-related eye conditions. You can find these vitamins and minerals in foods such as leafy greens, wild-caught fish and whole grains. CorneaCare recently launched a line of doctor-developed eye vitamins that contain all of these important vitamins and minerals. Conversely, eating too many processed foods with inflammatory ingredients can negatively impact your eye health. 
• Get regular eye exams. It’s important after LASIK surgery, and in general, to see your eye doctor regularly. Staying on top of eye conditions and changes in vision is key to preventing long-term damage and avoiding serious issues. 

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Putting It All Together

LASIK surgery is an excellent option for many people that offers a chance to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses. However, it doesn’t come without risks. You should thoroughly vet the eye care provider you choose to perform the surgery. Read reviews, ensure their credentials are up to date, and make sure you are comfortable with them during your interactions. 

Experiencing pain during LASIK is unlikely, but you may have some discomfort and lingering symptoms in the months that follow your procedure. 

Discuss any concerns with your eye doctor and follow your pre- and post-op instructions to keep your eyes safe and healthy. 

What’s Next

Your eye health is important to your overall health! Learn more ways to keep your eyes healthy in our eye health and wellness section.

The post Does LASIK Hurt? Learn What to Expect appeared first on CorneaCare® | Personalized Dry Eye Treatment.