Dry eye syndrome can be extremely uncomfortable. You might feel a persistent dryness or a gritty, scratchy sensation in your eyes, or start to develop problems with your vision. It’s irritating, and it doesn’t just affect adults. When children develop dry eyes, it can be a problem—especially if they don’t know what’s going on with their vision.
Fortunately, there are some signs you can watch out for to help your child. If they’re rubbing their eyes, avoiding most visual tasks, or developing visible redness in the area, they may have dry eyes. If you notice these signs, visit your optometrist so your child can find relief from their dry eyes.
What Is Pediatric Dry Eye?
Dry eyes develop when your tears aren’t able to protect your eyes anymore. Either there aren’t enough tears to properly protect the eye or the tears being produced aren’t high enough quality to do their job. This condition, clinically referred to as dry eye syndrome, leaves the eyes unprotected and vulnerable to the air. It often causes:
- A burning, dry, and gritty sensation
- Visible redness
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
Dry Eyes in Kids
If your child develops dry eyes, it can be a problem. They might not know how to explain what they’re feeling, especially if they’ve never felt this sensation before. This condition can make it especially difficult to pay attention to anything that requires intense focus since this can be extremely uncomfortable.
This means that your child may start to have problems in school. They may not be able to focus on reading or writing, and screens might be uncomfortable to use. This makes it essential to learn how to tell if your child has dry eyes!
How to Tell if Your Child Has Dry Eyes
Because it can be difficult for a child to communicate exactly what they’re feeling, it can help to look for signs they have dry eyes. Keep an eye out for:
- Visible redness or bloodshot eyes
- Complaints of scratchy or uncomfortable eyes
- Blinking more than usual or rubbing their eyes
- Difficulty keeping their eyes open in bright light
- Complaints about blurry vision
They may start avoiding reading or spending time at a computer since these activities can make the burning sensation worse. And remember: these symptoms aren’t just indicators of dry eyes. They’re all signs that your child’s eyes need some help, so it’s important to get a professional opinion.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Several potential options can cause a child to develop dry eyes. Sometimes, it’s as simple as being in a dry or windy environment for too long. In other situations, dry eye can be caused by an allergic reaction, or by spending too long doing something without blinking (like video games or focusing on a good book).
But sometimes, dry eyes can be a side effect of a medical condition developing. Some common conditions that can cause this include:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Sjogren’s syndrome, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy organs
Dry eye syndrome can even develop due to a problem with your child’s nutrition. Because there are so many potential causes, it can help to visit us at Park Slope Eye—we can provide an accurate diagnosis for your child’s dry eyes and help design a plan for treatment.
Are Dry Eyes Treatable?
There’s good news: dry eye syndrome is easily treatable with the help of our experienced team! But the treatment does depend on what exactly is causing your child’s dry eyes.
Sometimes, treatment can be as simple as changing the environment a little bit. It can help to remove any air conditioners or space heaters (if possible) so your child isn’t continually exposed to the dry moving air. In other situations, a more advanced approach may be necessary.
Our team may recommend:
- Artificial tears or eye drops to help bring relief and stimulate your child’s natural tear production
- Dietary changes to get your child the nutrients they need to naturally recover
- Warm compresses to stimulate the area and bring relief
- In-office meibomian gland expression, where we use a non-invasive approach to help promote natural tear production
- Punctal plugs to temporarily or permanently stop tears from draining back into the eye
The treatment we recommend may vary depending on your child’s unique situation.
Help Your Child Find Relief from Dry Eye
If you think your child might have dry eye syndrome, don’t worry. Our team here at Park Slope Eye is here to help bring your child relief. Remember: while dry eyes are irritating and frustrating, they’re also highly treatable.
Keep an eye out for any signs, and come visit our team of eye doctors. We’re here to keep your child’s eyes healthy, so book an appointment with us today!
