Dry Eye

dry eye Dry eye syndrome is a common condition in which the eyes are insufficiently lubricated due to an inadequate tear film.

Common symptoms of dry eye include dryness, irritation, foreign body sensation, redness, and tearing eyes. Dry eye can be due to a deficiency in tear production, excessive tear evaporation, or a chemical imbalance in tear composition.

It can cause damage to the ocular surface as the disease progresses leading to vision loss. Alleviating the symptoms of dry eye is important. Left untreated, it can be debilitating.

Causes Of Dry Eye

There are many different causes of dry eye. People usually begin experiencing symptoms as they age. It can result from certain medications, medical conditions and injuries. Dry eye tends to affect women more than men. Common causes of dry eye include the following:

Antihistamines and some blood-pressure medications
Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome and thyroid disease
Environmental conditions such as smoke, wind or excessive sun
Long-term contact lens use
Eye injury
Eye or eyelid surgery
Inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis or keratitis)

Symptoms Of Dry Eye

The symptoms of dry eye typically occur in both eyes, and include the following:

Stinging, burning or scratchiness
Eye fatigue
Sensitivity to light
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Excessive tearing
Blurry vision

Diagnosis of Dry Eye

Dry eye can be diagnosed after a thorough examination of the eyes. Specific tests including tear break-up time, Schirmer’s test and tear osmolarity can help to identify the cause of dryness. Once the cause is identified, specific treatment can be employed.

Treatment Of Dry Eye

Treatment for dry eye depends on its cause and severity, as well as the patient’s overall health and personal preference.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Nonsurgical treatments include the following:

- Increasing humidity levels at home or work – especially when furnace or A/C running
- Avoiding environmental irritants (e.g. smoke)
- Eliminating medications that may be responsible
- Artificial tears or a lubricating ointment
- Restasis/Xiidra
- Omega-3 fatty acids and flax seed

Other Treatments

If less invasive methods are unsuccessful, other treatments, which include the following, may be an option:

- - - - Insertion of punctal plugs to limit tear drainage (see video)
        
        Punctal cautery to permanently close the drainage channels
        
        Therapeutic contact lenses
        
        Eyelid surgery
        
        Amniotic membrane application

Preventing Dry Eye

There are steps that can be taken to prevent Dry Eye symptoms. Simple lifestyle modifications such as wearing protective glasses on windy days, and giving the eyes a break during reading or other tasks that require intense focus, can effectively reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms. Also avoiding drying conditions, such as those caused by A/C and furnaces, can help.