Why You Should Always Seek Treatment for Dry Eye

Dry eye is a very common condition that happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when your tears don’t provide proper lubrication. This can make your eyes feel itchy, gritty, or fatigued. Surprisingly, many people also notice excessive tearing. That happens because your body tries to make up for dryness by producing more watery tears, but they don’t provide the soothing lubrication your eyes need.

While some people view dry eye as a minor inconvenience that will eventually go away, leaving it untreated can cause bigger problems.

At Downtown Ophthalmology in Forest Hills and Queens, NY, ophthalmologist Akhilesh Singh, MD, provides advanced dry eye treatment to relieve your symptoms and help protect your long-term vision.

Here’s why you should never ignore the signs of dry eye:

Tears protect your eyes from damage

Your tears do more than keep your eyes comfortable. They serve as a protective barrier, flushing away dirt, dust, eyelashes, and other debris. Without enough healthy tears, these particles can stay on the surface of your eye and scratch the cornea.

Even a small scratch makes your eye more vulnerable to bacteria. This increases the risk of infection, which in severe cases may develop into a corneal ulcer. Without prompt care, corneal ulcers can cause scarring, vision loss, and in rare cases, blindness. Treating dry eye early is far safer, less painful, and less costly than dealing with these complications later.

Contact lenses can become uncomfortable

Many people in Queens rely on contact lenses for clear vision without glasses. But with dry eye, contacts can quickly become irritating. Dry lenses can stick to your eye’s surface, making removal difficult and uncomfortable. You may notice redness, burning, and sensitivity as a result.

Until your dry eye is properly treated, switching to glasses is usually the safest option. With the right treatment plan, most patients are able to return to wearing contact lenses comfortably.

Discomfort only worsens over time

The symptoms of dry eye — irritation, stinging, or burning — often increase the longer the condition goes untreated. You may also develop light sensitivity, trouble focusing, or headaches from the strain.

Dry eye can also lead to inflammation of the eye’s surface, which may cause conjunctivitis (pink eye). Over time, the condition can interfere with daily activities like reading, driving, or spending time on digital devices.

Find relief from dry eye

If you have dry eye symptoms, don’t ignore them. Getting the right treatment can restore comfort, protect your vision, and help you return to normal daily activities without ongoing irritation.

Schedule an appointment with Akhilesh Singh, MD, at Downtown Ophthalmology in Forest Hills or Queens today to find out more about effective dry eye treatment.