Huang Ophthalmology Center Inc.

• Stinging, burning, scratchiness sensation in your eyes
• Overflow of tearing
• Feeling of that something is in the eye
• Blurred vision, usually worsening at the end of the day
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Eye fatigue after short periods of reading
• Difficulty in wearing contact lenses

Both eyes are generally affected in symptoms described above.

• Natural aging process, more common in women especially during menopause
• Side of effects of medications such as antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure and Parkinson’s medications, and birth control pills
• Weather / Environment: dry, dusty or windy climates;  air conditioning or dry heating system
• Insufficient blinking as in the case of reading from the computer or cellphone screen all day.  Sometimes when people are focused with their reading, they naturally tend to forget to blink which then causes their eyes to be dry.
• Long-term contact use
• Incomplete closure of the eyelids and deficiency of the tear-producing glands

Dry eye is an ongoing condition that may or may not be cured depending on the cause.  In most cases artificial tears are prescribed to alleviate the dry scratchy feeling.  There are several brands on the market and is available without prescription.  Many people try different brands to find one that they like the best.

In some instances where dry eyes are more severe, your ophthalmologist may perform a very small procedure where a minuscule sponge like plug is placed in the channels of your tear duct so they are closed temporarily or permanently to create a reservoir of tears.  This is a very quick and effective procedure that takes just seconds to complete.

If the problem is environmental, the use of sunglasses and humidifier indoors can help alleviate the problem.

Eye floaters are spots or shadowy shapes that passes in front or to the side of your vision.  Since they are inside your eye, they move with your eyes when you try to see them.  Floaters can have different shapes such dots, circles, wiggly lines or like cobwebs and may be seen more clearly on plain background such as a blank white wall.  For most people, floaters start occurring as they grow older.  The vitreous humor thickens and clumps as we age which results infloaters from the clumped vitreous gel. 

Most eye floaters are harmless and are merely an annoyance.  There is no specific treatment to get rid of them.  While some floaters may remain in your vision, some will fade over time.