When your eyes hurt every time you blink, it can be more than just annoying. The discomfort can interrupt your ability to focus and affect your day-to-day quality of life. Eye pain should always be taken seriously, whether you’re reading, working, relaxing, or enjoying any other task. Having a thorough eye exam is crucial to diagnose the cause eye pain when you blink.
Eye pain when blinking is often caused by infections, strain, and inflammation. However, one of the most common causes of eye discomfort and irritation is dry eye, which affects the balance of your tear film. Fortunately, with your optometrist’s help, you can take charge of your eye health and find relief.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Your eyes rely on a healthy tear film to stay hydrated, comfortable, and protected. The thin layer of tears plays a significant role in keeping your eyes healthy throughout the day. When the tear film is disrupted in any way, you can quickly develop dry eye.
Problems with tear quality can develop due to:
- Aging, as tear production naturally decreases over time
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or autoimmune diseases
- Use of medications, like antihistamines or antidepressants, that can reduce tear production
- Prolonged screen time
If you’re dealing with one or more of these factors, you’re at a higher risk of dry eye.
How to Recognize Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye can be tricky. It’s not always obvious when this condition is causing discomfort. Some signs can feel mild at first but become more noticeable over time, so watch for signs of:
- Burning or stinging sensations
- Redness or irritation
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision or difficulty focusing
- A gritty feeling, like something is stuck in your eye
For many people, these symptoms worsen every time they blink. You may experience eye pain when blinking or overly watery eyes flooding the eyes’ surface with poor-quality tears.
Can Dry Eye Make You Blind?
Dry eye is complex and often involves more than just short-term discomfort. When treated promptly and appropriately, dry eye won’t permanently harm your vision.
This is why treatment is crucial in preventing these issues. So, when it comes to dry eye treatment, what options do you have?
How to Find Relief from Dry Eye
There is good news. You have several options for at-home changes and in-office treatments that can help effectively manage dry eye. Your eye doctor can develop a personalized treatment strategy to get long-lasting relief.
At-Home Dry Eye Treatments
Sometimes, simple changes make all the difference. If you deal with dry eyes, it helps to:
- Use preservative-free artificial tears regularly to keep your eyes hydrated
- Apply warm compresses to help with eyelid hygiene & tear production
- After using a warm compress, massaging your eyelids with an eyelid cleanser helps unclog meibomian glands, supporting their expression and improving tear film quality
- Follow a nutritious diet rich in leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, & vitamins A, C, & E
- Taking a triglyceride omega 3 (liquid or pill form) such as PRN, which reduces systemic inflammation in the body, and can improve symptoms of dry eye
These strategies, whether at home or on the go, can significantly help manage dry eye symptoms.
In-Office Dry Eye Treatments
For more severe or chronic cases of dry eye, you may need your optometrist’s help. We can examine your eyes to determine what type of dry eye therapy is right for you.
Here at Brantford Eye Clinic, we often recommend the E>Eye treatment, an intense regulated pulsed light (IRPL) therapy to target glands in your eyelids. A targeted approach can help improve how the glands function and restore function to your tear film.
An IRPL treatment is carefully calibrated to be noninvasive and safe, all while offering long-lasting and fast-acting results.
Another advanced option we offer is the Jett Plasma Pen, a noninvasive treatment designed to address some of the underlying causes of dry eye, such as inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and eyelid conditions like blepharitis. The device uses plasma energy a process called reversible electroporation to gently stimulate circulation, break down blockages in the oil glands, and reduce bacterial buildup along the eyelid margins.
This targeted approach can help improve gland function and promote a healthier tear film, offering relief for patients dealing with persistent dryness, irritation, or pain when blinking. Like IRPL, the Jett Plasma Pen is carefully calibrated for use around the eyes, making it a safe and effective solution for chronic dry eye symptoms when at-home treatments aren’t enough.
When to Visit an Optometrist for Dry Eye
If you suspect you are having any signs and symptoms of dry eye, we would recommend seeing an optometrist that specializes in dry eyes. Early intervention and prevention is key to keeping your eyes hydrated for life. These clinics will book you in for a Dry Eye Assessment which could include tests such as tear film break up time and a non invasive image of your meibomian glands. Depending on the results of these tests, in office treatments will be considered. A tailored at-home dry eye regime will also be specially curated for you. Sometimes, managing dry eye at home just isn’t enough. If you notice significant discomfort, don’t ignore it—you deserve relief, and your optometrist can help.
Watch for these signs that you should visit your eye doctor:
- Persistent eye discomfort that doesn’t improve
- Blurred vision that affects daily activities
- Pain or redness that worsens over time
- Difficulty going about your day due to eye problems
If these signs and symptoms sound familiar, it’s time for professional treatment. Personalized dry eye therapy can make a difference by alleviating symptoms and helping to prevent potential complications.
Having a thorough eye exam is also important to rule out other problems that can cause eye pain when you blink. Protecting your future eye health and vision starts with proactive care today.
Find the Relief You Deserve
Dry eye or pain while blinking shouldn’t control your day. You deserve clear and comfortable vision, and relief is within reach.
Pain when blinking should be taken seriously as it can indicate infections, eye damage, dry eye, and more. Our team at Brantford Eye Care can identify the cause of your symptoms and help you find relief with a personalized treatment plan. Schedule an appointment with our team today, and let us help.
