Three Common Eye Annoyances, And What You Can Do About Them

Odds are, you mainly head to the eye doctor when you're having trouble seeing. But there are other common eye problems that your doctor may be able to help you with.

Eye Twitches

A twitching eye can be annoying, although it's usually a benign condition. It can happen in one or both eyes, and may be short lived or last for a couple of months. There are a number of reasons why your eye may be twitching, ranging from fatigue, stress, dry eyes, or alcohol. Rarely, eye twitching may be due to more serious conditions such as multiple sclerosis or dystonia.

For most eye twitches, cutting down caffeine intake, getting enough sleep, and taking steps to reduce stress may help. If the eye twitch is caused by an underlying condition, working with your doctor to treat the cause should help reduce the twitching.

Floaters

Most people have dealt with eye floaters at some point. These moving specks in your vision can look like thin strings or tiny dots. Floaters will usually move around your field of vision and may be more obvious when looking at a bright, blank surface such as a piece of white paper.

A small amount of floaters in your vision is normal, especially as you age. Those who are nearsighted may be more likely to see floaters, as are those with diabetes. If, however, you suddenly notice an increase in floaters, you may be suffering from a retinal detachment, which requires immediate medical attention.

In most cases, floaters are harmless, and they require no treatment. However, for those with more severe cases, surgery can be done to remove the floaters.

Scratchy eyes

Dry eyes tend to be a regular occurrence for those stuck behind a computer screen. And while it's easy to blame the screen itself, dry eyes are the result of our natural tendency to blink less when looking at a computer screen, phone, or TV set. Allergies and dry, indoor air may also contribute to the problem.

Eye drops are one line of defense. Over-the-counter options are available, although your doctor may recommend prescription drops if your dry eyes are particularly difficult to treat. If the dryness is the result of allergies, drops containing allergy medication may also be useful. And, perhaps the simplest way to combat dry eye is to focus on blinking more.

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