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Eye Health · · 2 min read

What Happens if You Don’t Treat Dry Eyes?

Learn what can happen if dry eyes are left untreated, the signs to look for and the dry eye treatments available at E Eye Place in Perth.

Written by Stephanie Yeo
Owner, Senior Clinical Optometrist
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Dry eyes might seem like a small irritation, but when left untreated, the condition can cause ongoing discomfort and even affect long-term vision. At E Eye Place, we believe good eyesight is only part of the picture, your overall eye health matters just as much.

Quick Summary

The Key Points in 30 Seconds

  1. 01

    Dry eye happens when your tears don’t properly lubricate the eyes.

  2. 02

    Symptoms include burning, stinging, redness, watering, and blurred vision.

  3. 03

    Ignoring dry eye can increase infection risk and damage the eye’s surface.

  4. 04

    Treatments include warm compresses, lid cleansers, supplements, and prescription drops.

  5. 05

    Early diagnosis helps protect your eyes and maintain clear, comfortable vision.

Why Dry Eyes Shouldn’t be Ignored?

Occasional dryness is common, especially after long hours on screens or in air-conditioned spaces. But persistent dry eye is more than just a nuisance, it is a medical condition. If left untreated, it can cause inflammation, damage the protective tear film, and make simple activities like reading, driving, or working on digital devices more difficult.

Book an eye test with our team if you experience ongoing dryness or irritation.

Common Signs of Dry Eye

  • A burning, stinging, or gritty feeling
  • The sensation of something in your eye
  • Blurred or fluctuating vision
  • Redness and irritation
  • Excessive watering as your eyes try to compensate

If you notice these symptoms often, it’s a sign your eyes aren’t producing or maintaining tears as they should.

The older you are, the higher the chance of getting dry eye.

What Happens if Dry Eyes are Untreated?

Ignoring dry eyes may seem harmless at first, but over time it can lead to:

  • Ongoing discomfort, irritation that becomes more frequent and harder to manage.
  • Higher risk of infections, without a stable tear film, bacteria can enter more easily.
  • Damage to the eye surface, chronic dryness may cause corneal scratches or even ulcers.
  • Reduced quality of life, tasks such as reading, night driving, or using a computer may become difficult.

Treatments That Can Help

At E Eye Place, we take a personalised approach to dry eye treatments to suit your lifestyle and level of discomfort. Options may include:

  • Warm compress therapy, to unclog blocked meibomian glands and improve tear quality (we recommend the Eye Doctor Premium Warm Compress).
  • Lid hygiene, using gentle products like Tranquileyes Lid Cleanser to remove bacteria and debris.
  • Nutritional support, with supplements such as Lacritec or Dry Eye Forte to promote healthy tear production.
  • Prescription treatments, including medicated drops or in-office therapies where required.

By combining home care with clinical treatments, we aim to restore comfort and protect your eyes for the long term.

Dry eye is a disease involving a scarcity of tears and/or deterioration of the quality thereof, causing inflammation of the eye's surface.

Protect your vision with early care

The earlier dry eye is addressed, the easier it is to manage. If you’re experiencing frequent symptoms, we recommend booking a general eye exam so we can assess your tear film and create a tailored treatment plan.

Book a dry eye appointment today.

Stephanie Yeo

Written by

Stephanie Yeo

Owner and senior clinical optometrist. In optometry since 2003, with particular interests in children's vision and community eye care.

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