How Dry Eye Affects Your Vision: 8 Essential Facts

Dry eye is more than just an occasional annoyance. It can interfere with your daily life, make tasks like reading or using a computer uncomfortable, and even affect your vision quality. At Beach Cities Optometry, we believe understanding the root cause of dry eye and knowing your treatment options is key to long-term relief. Here are eight essential facts about how dry eye affects your vision and what you can do about it.
 

1. Dry Eye Causes Blurred and Fluctuating Vision

When your eyes are not properly lubricated, your tear film becomes unstable. This instability can cause your vision to fluctuate throughout the day and make it difficult to focus clearly.
 

2. It Can Lead to Light Sensitivity

Dry eyes are often more sensitive to light, a condition known as photophobia. Whether it’s bright indoor lighting or sunlight, many patients report discomfort or pain when exposed to light for long periods.
 

3. It Often Feels Like Something Is in Your Eye

Dry eye can cause a gritty, foreign body sensation. This constant irritation can lead you to rub your eyes frequently, which may worsen inflammation and blur your vision even more.
 

4. Screen Time Makes It Worse

Spending hours on digital devices reduces your blink rate, leading to increased evaporation of your tears. This can intensify dry eye symptoms and make it harder to concentrate on your screen.
 

5. It Can Impact Night Vision

Driving at night becomes more difficult with dry eyes due to increased glare and halos around lights. Poor tear quality causes light to scatter on the surface of the eye, affecting visual clarity in low-light environments.
 

6. It Is Linked to Inflammation of the Meibomian Glands

Meibomian gland dysfunction is a leading cause of dry eye. These glands are responsible for producing the oil layer of your tears. When blocked or inflamed, the tear film evaporates too quickly, leading to dry, irritated eyes and unstable vision.
 

7. IPL Is an Effective Treatment for Chronic Dry Eye

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy targets the underlying inflammation caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. This noninvasive treatment uses pulses of light to improve gland function, reduce redness, and restore a healthy tear film. IPL has become a highly effective option for patients who suffer from moderate to severe dry eye and want lasting relief.
 

8. Untreated Dry Eye Can Lead to Long-Term Damage

When left untreated, chronic dry eye can cause damage to the cornea and increase your risk for eye infections. Over time, this can lead to more serious vision issues that require advanced care.
 

Take the First Step Toward Clearer, More Comfortable Vision

Dry eye is a condition that should not be ignored. It affects your overall eye health and quality of life. We offer comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans, including advanced options like IPL therapy, to help restore your vision and comfort.
 

If you are struggling with dry eye symptoms, schedule a dry eye evaluation at Beach Cities Optometry to discover if IPL therapy is right for you. Visit our office in Manhattan Beach, California, or call (310) 906-4426 today.