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Approximately 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with dry eye, and millions more have symptoms but remained undiagnosed. Dry eye can result from inadequate tear production or poor tear quality. Symptoms include:

• Watery eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Burning /gritty eyes
• Blurred or fluctuating vision

Those over 65 and female are most likely to have symptoms. However, children are commonly diagnosed due to their significant digital device use. Once you have been diagnosed, it is important to understand dry eye is a chronic condition that will always require treatment.

Your doctor will prescribe dry eye treatment tailored to your eyes, however, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to alleviate or improve your dry eye symptoms.

An estimated one out of every 100 Americans is affected by a condition known as Graves’ disease.  Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to an overactive thyroid, a condition more commonly known as hyperthyroidism.

Those diagnosed with Graves’ disease are also at an increased risk of developing Graves’ ophthalmopathy, also known as thyroid eye disease (TED). In fact, it’s estimated that one out of every four people with Graves’ disease will experience some form of TED. In addition, and according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), TED is five times more common in women but more likely to be more severe in men.

For most, symptoms of TED usually appear within six months of the appearance of symptoms associated with Graves’ disease.