Dry Eye Treatment
The term “dry eye” might seem misleading since one of its most common symptoms is excessive tearing!
This makes more sense when you understand that the eye produces two types of tears.
The first type, known as lubricating tears, is produced slowly and consistently throughout the day. These tears contain a balanced mix of mucus, water, oil, nutrient proteins, and antibodies that nourish and protect the eye’s surface.
The second type, reflex tears, lacks significant lubricating properties. Reflex tears are an emergency response, flooding the eye when it is suddenly irritated or injured. They occur when you get something in your eye, cut onions, are exposed to smoke, or accidentally scratch your eye. Reflex tears are produced in large quantities, overwhelming the tear drainage system and causing tears to spill onto your cheeks. Reflex tearing can also occur due to irritation from a lack of lubricating tears. If your eye does not produce enough lubricating tears, you experience dry eye.
Symptoms of Dry Eye:
– Watery eyes
– A sensation of sand in your eyes
– Itchy and burning eyes
– Blurred vision after periods of reading, watching TV, or using a computer
– Red, irritated eyes that produce a mucus discharge
book an appointmentAge: As we age, glands in the eyelid produce less oil, which prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. Reduced oil production leads to dry eyes.
Diseases: Conditions like diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease.
Hormonal changes: Especially after menopause.
Medications: Prescription drugs such as high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills, and pain medications. Over-the-counter medications for colds, allergies, motion sickness, and sleep aids can also cause dry eye.
Environment: Hot, dry, or windy conditions, high altitude, air-conditioning, and smoke.
Activities: Reading, using a computer, or watching TV.
Contact lenses.
Eye surgery: Certain procedures, including LASIK, can exacerbate dry eye.
Inflammation: Recent research suggests dry eye may be due to inflammation from an imbalance of “good” and “bad” fats.
Diagnosing Dry Eye:
Dry Eye is diagnosed by examining your eyes with magnifying instruments, measuring tear production, and checking how long tears take to evaporate between blinks. They may use special colored eye drops like fluorescein or Rose Bengal to detect pinpoint scratches on the eye’s surface caused by dryness.
Treatments for Dry Eye:
The most common treatment involves artificial tears, which compensate for the lack of natural lubricating tears. These come in liquid, gel, and long-lasting ointment forms, with the latter often recommended for nighttime use. Many over-the-counter brands are available, some with preservatives and some without. Unpreserved tears are often recommended for those sensitive to preservatives. Artificial tears can generally be used as needed, from a few times a day to every few minutes, following your doctor’s recommendations.
When infection, eyelid inflammation, or clogged oil glands contribute to dry eye, special lid cleaning techniques or antibiotics may be recommended. Avoiding hot, dry, or windy environments and humidifying indoor air can also help.
Restasis® is a new treatment for Dry Eye Disease. These drops help the eyes produce more tears by reducing inflammation, addressing one of the root causes of dry eye rather than just alleviating symptoms temporarily.
Punctal occlusion is a medical treatment for dry eye that helps your eyes retain their lubricating tears longer by plugging the duct that drains tears from the eyes.