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QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT CHRONIC DRY EYE DISEASE

Dry eye disease is a group of disorders affecting the film of tears over the eye. The condition affects an estimated 3.2 million American women and 1.6 million American men over age 50, along with many younger people.

The early symptoms of dry eye disease may include: eye redness; burning, stinging and/or a gritty sensation in the eye, especially when the humidity is low; a feeling that something is in your eye; and trouble wearing contact lenses.

In mild cases, these symptoms may come and go. An individual may have only some, or all of these symptoms. As dry eye worsens, the symptoms tend to become more persistent.

Your ophthalmologist or optometrist can diagnose dry eye disease during an eye examination. A complete physical examination may be necessary to diagnose any underlying diseases, such as Sjögren's syndrome. Make sure you tell your health care professional what medications you are taking, as many drugs can aggravate dryness of the eyes.

Discuss Chronic Dry Eye Disease with your health care professional. Here are some suggested questions to ask:

1. Could my eye symptoms be chronic dry eye?

2. Is a disease causing my chronic dry eye?

3. Can any of the medications I take contribute to chronic dry eye?

4. What can I do to reduce my discomfort from dry eye?

5. What treatments are available to treat my symptoms?

Write your questions to ask here:

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This publication and the DRY EYE HOT JOBS rankings are part of a NWHRC educational initiative, sponsored by Allergan, Inc.