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Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

When my mother underwent chemotherapy, we spent a lot of time visiting the phlebotomy lab for blood testing. I was always impressed by how easily the phlebotomist was able to find and puncture a vein to draw blood on the first try. I knew there had to be a method to it, and was astounded by how effortless and painless they made the process. It led me to research a lot about blood tests, from drawing to the actual screening. I've created this site to share what I've learned in the hopes of teaching others. The more you understand, the more control you can have over your own health care.

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Testing, Testing 123: Phlebotomy Basics

Information On Dry Eye Disease And Some Treatments

by Francisco Arnold

If you find you often suffer from dry eyes, then you may have a condition that is known as dry eye disease. This condition happens when you aren't able to adequately lubricate your eyes with your tears. This can happen for a number of reasons. You can learn more about this problem and some possible options for dry eye treatment here.

Possible causes of dry eye disease

You can end up suffering from this condition if you aren't producing enough tears. Your tears will constantly keep your eyes moist. Some things that can cause a decline in tear production include aging, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis, to name a few possibilities. 

Another cause of chronic dry eyes is having a deficiency in the important tear film lipid layer, which is typically caused by a clogged gland. This leads to an increase in tear evaporation. Some causes of this condition can include conditions or activities that result in less blinking, eye allergies, and dry air, as well as others. 

Some symptoms of dry eye disease

When you have dry eye disease, you can experience many symptoms that are irritating and even painful. Some of these symptoms can include things like stinging and burning feelings in your eyes, the feeling of scratchiness, light sensitivity, blurry vision, redness, and watery eyes as your eyes react to the irritation they are experiencing. 

Some available treatments for dry eye disease

If you are experiencing some or even all of the symptoms described here, then you should make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. They will give you an eye exam to see what the cause is, and then they can provide you with the appropriate treatment. 

The ophthalmologist may suggest an over-the-counter artificial tear solution for you to use. This treatment can help by providing your eyes with the next best thing to natural tears, so they will stay properly lubricated. Or, they may prescribe you drops that you can get from the pharmacy. There are different types of eye drops that work for different types of eye conditions. 

Another thing the ophthalmologist can do to treat this condition in certain cases is to use a tiny plug to partially block the tear ducts if this would be of help. This will help to keep the tears in your eyes longer to keep them properly lubricated. Surgery can also be done to partially close the ducts. 

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