Man in a pink T-shirt stands outdoors in a park, squinting and rubbing his eye with one hand while holding a tissue in the other. Trees and grass are visible in the background.

Hydration Hacks for Dry Eyes: Beyond Water and Eye Drops

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Of all the ocular health conditions people face, dry eyes are one of the most common reasons for seekingmedical eye care in Pittsburgh, PA. While the top two recommendations for dry eye management always include hydration and good eye drops, other hacks can also help. Check out these less-mentioned ideas for managing your dry eye issues.

1. Check Your Environment for Chemicals
Chemicals and air pollutants can contribute to dry eye symptoms. For example, if you frequently use home fragrance products or perfume, these products contain chemicals that can irritate your eyes. If you have ongoing issues even with hydration and eye drops, take a look at pollutants in your environment that could be to blame.

2. Monitor Allergen Exposure
Seasonal allergies can affect your eyes, even contributing to dry, irritated eyes. Therefore, if you have ongoing issues with dry eyes, consider if exposure to allergens would be to blame. For instance, pet dander and dust may be to blame if you are known to have allergy sensitivities to these often airborne compounds.

3. Wear Sunglasses
Some people can have a higher sensitivity to UV light than others, and this heightened sensitivity can exacerbate dry eye symptoms. In some cases, no UV protection can cause excessive tearing, which in turn can cause issues with dry and tired eyes. Therefore, be sure to wear UV-protective sunglasses when in the sun.

Discuss Other Dry Eye Solutions with a Pittsburgh Optometrist
Dry eyes can be aggravating, but there are solutions that a Pittsburgh eye doctor can offer that can help. If you struggle with dry eyes, be sure to reach out to the team at Lappen Eye Care to schedule an appointment.

A woman with red hair shows discomfort and touches her face, which has visible white sunscreen, red sunburn, and uneven tan lines, against a pink background.

Can Your Eyes Get Sunburned?

/0 Comments/in , /by

If you spend any amount of time in the sun, you shouldn’t neglect protecting your eyes. It’s important to talk with your optometrist in Greensburg, PA, about how the sun can damage your eyes. Did you know your eyes could get sunburned? They can! Keep reading to learn more.

Can Your Eyes Get Sunburned?
Most people don’t realize their eyes can get sunburned. This is a condition called photokeratitis. Sunburned eyes are extremely painful and generally require urgent medical care. But fortunately, photokeratitis doesn’t usually lead to permanent blindness.

How Do You Know if Your Eyes Are Sunburned?
You will know if you have sunburned eyes if you have the following symptoms.

Severe eye pain after being in the sun.
Red eyes.
Gritty feeling eyes.
Swelling in your eyes.
Blurred vision.
Watery eyes.
Sensitivity to bright light.
Twitching eyelids.
You see halos.
How Do You Treat Sunburned Eyes?
If you have sunburned eyes, you will need to schedule an eye doctor exam in Greensburg, PA, immediately for a diagnosis and treatment. But while you are waiting for your eye doctor’s appointment, you can do the following to treat your sunburned eyes.

Take a cold, wet cloth compress and put it over your closed eyes. This will help reduce any eye pain and swelling you might have. You can also get some artificial tears eyedrops to lubricate your eyes. This will help ease the gritty feeling that comes from sunburned eyes. Additionally, you can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. This will help reduce much of the eye irritation and inflammation that accompanies sunburned eyes.

Do You Need an Optometrist in Greenburg, PA?
If you need an optometrist in Greenburg, PA, please Contact Lappen Eye Care today. We offer a comfortable, relaxing environment where we treat everyone like family. And we have state-of-the-art equipment and technology to ensure you get the best dental care possible.

Man in a pink T-shirt stands outdoors in a park, squinting and rubbing his eye with one hand while holding a tissue in the other. Trees and grass are visible in the background.

The Dangers of Ignoring Your Dry Eyes

/0 Comments/in /by

Blurry eyes are a relatively common condition that most people experience when they’re tired or after staring at a screen for too long. When you become accustomed to it, though, it becomes easier to ignore. If dry eyes cause the blur, this could be more dangerous than you think. We’ll look at why it’s so important to visit a doctor if you have symptoms.

Chronic Dry Eyes

Chronic dry eyes in Pittsburgh, PA, are a condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or your eyes don’t produce the right type of tears. Because the lubrication comes from both water and oil, you can still experience dry eyes even if your eyes water on a regular basis.

Dangers of Dry Eye

Dry eyes are by no means life-threatening and, on the list of possible medical problems, would rank relatively low on the list. However, if you’re not addressing dry eyes, it can lead to damage to the eye tissues. This is because, over time, the lack of tears can lead to a breakdown of the protective cells of the eye. If your eyes are extremely dry on a regular basis, it can even lead to a cornea scratch. The best way to treat dry eye is to find an optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA, with enough experience to find a long-term solution.

Eye Doctors in McMurray, PA

Lappen Eye Care, with locations in McMurray, Pittsburgh, and Greensburg, PA, has optometrists who can tell you more about how to treat your dry eyes. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to see because the sting in your eyes is so strong, it’s important not to wait. Making an appointment with us can help you learn more about what’s causing dry eyes so you can move ahead.

A person applies eye drops to their right eye using a blue dropper bottle.

Managing Dry Eyes: Relief and Treatment Options in Pittsburgh

/0 Comments/in /by

Dry eyes are a common condition that can affect your comfort, vision, and quality of life. Whether caused by environmental factors, prolonged screen time, or an underlying medical condition, dry eyes occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the right kind of tears to keep them properly lubricated. At Lappen Eye Care, we specialize in diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome to help you find lasting relief.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes can result from various factors, including:

  • Age: Tear production tends to decrease as we age.
  • Environment: Exposure to wind, smoke, or dry air can exacerbate symptoms.
  • Screen Time: Staring at screens reduces blinking, which can lead to dryness.
  • Contact Lenses: Prolonged wear can interfere with natural tear production.
  • Health Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disorders can contribute to dry eyes.
  • Medications: Certain medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, can reduce tear production.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Common signs of dry eyes include:

  • Burning or stinging sensation
  • Redness and irritation
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Blurred vision, especially after reading or screen use
  • Feeling like something is in your eye
  • Watery eyes (a reflex response to dryness)

How We Treat Dry Eyes at Lappen Eye Care

If you’re experiencing symptoms of dry eyes, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to your needs:

  1. Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter or prescription eye drops can provide temporary relief.
  2. Prescription Medications: Medications like Restasis® or Xiidra® can help increase tear production and reduce inflammation.
  3. Punctal Plugs: These tiny devices block tear drainage, helping your eyes retain moisture longer.
  4. Lifestyle Changes: Adjusting screen habits, using a humidifier, or wearing protective eyewear can reduce symptoms.
  5. Advanced Treatments: For chronic cases, we may recommend specialized therapies like LipiFlow® to address meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a common cause of dry eyes.

Don’t Let Dry Eyes Affect Your Life

Dry eyes can be uncomfortable, but relief is possible with the right treatment plan. At Lappen Eye Care, we’re dedicated to helping you find effective solutions that improve your eye health and comfort. With locations in Pittsburgh, McMurray, and Greensburg, expert care is always within reach.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward healthier, more comfortable eyes!

A woman with red hair and a white shirt covers part of her face with one hand, looking down with a neutral expression against a plain background.

Why Are My Eyes Stinging Only at Night?

/0 Comments/in /by

Your eyes may sometimes feel like one of the more mysterious organs in your body. Maybe they feel fine during the day, but as soon as you start your wind-down routine, they start to sting. If you can’t trace this cause back to a one-off event, such as an all-night binge session of your favorite show, we’ll look at why you might feel dry eyes in Pittsburgh, PA only at night.

The Body Is Slowing Down

Your dry eyes are likely reacting to the tear evaporation process that takes place throughout the day. This is a natural occurrence that everyone experiences, though not everyone will have a reaction to it. If your eyes feel dry if you wake in the middle of the night, it’s likely because the blood circulation slows down. The slower the blood, the fewer nutrients your eyes receive.

In rarer cases, you might have a condition that doesn’t allow your eyes to close while you’re asleep. Known as nocturnal lagophthalmos, it could be due to a chronic eyelid injury (e.g., after surgery) or because of a deformity with the eyelid. If you think that your eyelids are not closing properly, this is more serious than occasional stinging and more likely to result in an eye injury (due to the exposure.

Dry Eyes in Greensburg, PA

If you’re looking for relief from dry eye, either during the day or at night, contacting the right eye doctor can help. While eye drops from the drugstore can certainly bring comfort, you may need more than a quick fix. At Lappen Eye Care, our eye doctors in Pittsburgh, PA can help you figure out the source of your dry eye and how you can best combat that stinging sensation from morning to night.

A woman with long blonde hair holds a large brown autumn leaf in front of her face, partially obscuring it, with blurred fall foliage in the background.

Fall Is Here! Watch Out for Dry Eye

/0 Comments/in /by

Dry eye is a problem that can affect people at all times of the year, but when the humidity outside begins to drop, many people begin to experience this problem more than normal.

As your eye doctor in the Pittsburgh area, the professionals at Lappen Eye Care can help. Knowing the symptoms of dry eye, the causes and what you can do about it can help you take care of your eyes.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

There are many symptoms of dry eye, and some of those symptoms can seem similar to other symptoms of other conditions. To find out for sure what’s affecting you, talk to your eye doctor. Symptoms include:

  • Scratchy or burning sensation in the eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Redness in the eyes
  • Blurry vision
  • Eye fatigue
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Watery eyes

Causes of Dry Eye

There are many things that can cause dry eye including medications, hormone changes, changes in tear production and allergies.

What to Do About Dry Eye

If you suffer from dry eye, your eye doctor may recommend prescription eye drops to help keep your eyes properly moistened. In addition, there are many things you can do to lessen the effects of dry eye.

  • Avoid using hair dryers or keep the air flow low
  • Humidify the air in your home
  • Wear wrap around sunglasses
  • Blink your eyes more frequently in dry environments
  • Avoid smoky environments

Need Dry Eye Treatment? Contact Your Eye Doctor in the Pittsburgh Area

Dry eye can be a problem, especially if you wear contact lenses. If you suffer from dry eye, seek dry eye treatment in the Pittsburgh area. Contact Lappen Eye Care today to make an appointment to see our eye doctor.

A person in a white turtleneck sweater stands with eyes closed under yellow autumn leaves.

4 Tips To Avoid Dry Eye This Fall

/0 Comments/in /by

Dry eye can happen at any time, but many people experience it most in the fall and winter, when the air turns dry and cold. If you’re one of those people who suffers from dry eye in the latter part of the year, your eye doctor in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area can help you.

At Lappen Eye Care, we help patients manage their dry eye first by identifying the cause of the problem, and then by making recommendations based on the diagnosis. Sometimes, dry eye can be resolved by making simple changes like the ones below.

1. Humidify your environment at home.

A dry environment can contribute to dry eyes. Humidifying your environment at home, especially the rooms where you spend the most time, can help. Use a humidifier in your bedroom, living room, or in other parts of the house where you regularly spend time.

2. Protect your eyes from glare and wind.

Glare on snow and harsh cold wind can contribute to dry eye. Wear sunglasses, particularly the wrap around kind, to protect your eyes on days when it’s cold, windy, or snowy.

3. Use over the counter eye drops.

Use over the counter eye drops to moisturize your eyes and relieve some of the most uncomfortable effects of dry eye. Over the counter eye drops are sold in pharmacies, convenience stores and grocery stores. If over the counter eye drops don’t help, then you may need to see the eye doctor.

4. Talk to your eye doctor.

If making the above changes to your eyes aren’t helping with your dry eye, then you may need dry eye treatment in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. Talk to your eye doctor at Lappen Eye Care to find out what else can be done to fix your problem.

A person holds a contact lens on their fingertip close to their eye, preparing to insert it.

Do One-Day Contacts Cause Dry Eye?

/0 Comments/in , /by

Single-use contacts have been popular with many people for a number of reasons. Not only are they easier to care for, in that you don’t have to worry about cleaning or storing them, but they’re also supposed to be fresher for your eyes. However, because once-a-day contacts are made from a thinner material, they react differently to the eye throughout the day. If you’ve noticed that your eyes are a little drier after starting this regimen, or if you’re concerned about whether you’ll experience dry eyes by switching, we’ll look at what you can expect.

Thinner Material

Because daily contacts in Greensburg, PA, are only designed for single-use wear, they’re made from a thinner material. This means that they’re less breathable than lenses designed for longer wear, which can mean that more moisture is absorbed into the lens. The less moisture in your eye, the more likely you are to feel the sting of dry eye.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes

The most basic way to prevent dry eyes is to make sure that you’re following all the general instructions. This means wearing your contact lenses for the appropriate amount of time (e.g., no longer than a day) and using artificial tears if your eyes start to feel uncomfortable. However, if you’re still experiencing severe symptoms, it might be time for a different lens.

See an Optometrist in Pittsburgh

The right optometrist can help you determine which lens is going to keep you the most comfortable over the course of the day. Visiting the staff of Lappen Eye Care, with locations in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, and McMurray, we can make recommendations about which brands are known to give people with dry eye the most relief, whether that’s a daily contact or not.

A person in a white button-up shirt stands against a plain background, covering their eyes with both hands.

Common Dry Eye FAQs

/0 Comments/in /by

When was the last time you visited an optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA? It’s important to schedule regular eye exams if you want to keep your eyes healthy and your vision in good condition. Dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions people complain about.

The Most Common Dry Eye FAQs
Here are the most common dry eye FAQs answered.

Does drinking water help dry eyes?
Yes, drinking more water will help you stay hydrated and maintain a healthy tear volume, which will reduce your dry eye symptoms.

Can dry eye ever be cured?
Unfortunately, dry eye is a chronic condition that doesn’t have a cure. However, if you have dry eye in Pittsburgh, PA, your optometrist can set up a customized treatment to help you manage the symptoms.

What causes dry eye?
Dry eye can be caused by a dry indoor environment, medication, poor blinking habits, contact lenses, and other environmental issues.

What vitamin deficiency causes dry eye?
Vitamin B12 helps your body make DNA and nerve cells. Therefore, a vitamin B12 deficiency contributes to dry eye and eye pain. Additionally, vitamin A can also help increase your tear production. Remember to always talk with your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA before taking any supplements for dry eye.

What happens if you don’t have your dry eye treated?
If you don’t have your dry eye treated, you have an increased chance of eye infection, inflammation, corneal surface abrasion, corneal ulcers, and vision loss.

Do You Need an Optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA?
If you are experiencing dry eye or any other type of eye condition, please Contact Lappen Eye Care today. We have state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and technology, along with an unparalleled team of eye doctors that can handle a wide range of eye issues to help keep you seeing clearly now and for many years to come.

A person applies eye drops to their right eye using a blue dropper bottle.

Can Dry Eye Worsen As the Days Turn Colder?

/0 Comments/in /by

Winter is challenging in many ways, but for those who struggle with a condition known as dry eye, it can be especially uncomfortable. If you notice your symptoms of dry eye worsening as fall turns into winter, your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA, has solutions.

What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a condition that occurs because your body can’t produce enough tears to keep your eyes comfortably lubricated. There may be many reasons why someone may experience the symptoms of dry eye, including:

Dehydration
Hormonal changes
Illness or disease
Certain medications
Inflamed eyelid glands
Allergies
If you develop dry eye, you may notice symptoms such as burning, itching, and redness of the eyes. It may feel as though you have debris caught under your eyelid, and you may find yourself fishing thin strings of mucus out of the eye. This condition is usually very uncomfortable, which is why it’s important to schedule a dry eye screening with your vision specialist right away. Treatment for dry eyes can bring immediate relief.

How Do the Winter Months Affect Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes often worsen as summer fades to fall and fall to winter, because there’s less moisture in the air. This is especially true indoors, where the air is constantly being heated.

Some people are also more allergy-prone during the cooler months because of common triggers such as ragweed, mold, and dust mites. Ragweed usually releases pollen between the months of August and October. And it’s estimated that roughly 75 percent of those who have spring plant allergies are also sensitive to ragweed.

Where to Find Help for Dry Eye in Pittsburgh
If you’re struggling with dry eyes in Pittsburgh, call Lappen Eye Care to schedule an eye exam. The friendly and professional eye specialists at Lappan Eye Care can help ease the pain and discomfort associated with dry eyes.