Dry Eye

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye disease is a common condition that affects a large majority of the population and occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate and unstable for many reasons. There are multiple forms of dry eye which affect the eyes in different ways.

Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: The eyes do not produce enough of the aqueous layer or watery layer of the tear film.

Evaporative Dry Eye is when portions of the tear film evaporate quickly and do not provide an adequate tear film.

Inflammatory Dry Eye occurs when inflammation around the lids and lashes leads to a reduction of the oily layer of the tear film.

In some cases some patients will have a combination of more than one type of dry eye.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Allergies
Autoimmune conditions such as Hyper or Hypothyroidism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease and much more.
Daily Environment (dusty, windy, hot/dry) such as working in a construction site, kitchen, or hospital etc.
Decreased hormones associated with aging
Pregnancy and associated hormonal changes
Eyelid inflammation (blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction)
Medication/supplement use including, such as OTC cold medicines, anti-histamines, beta-blockers, pain relievers, sleeping pills, diuretics, hormonal replacement, and oral contraceptives
Sjogren's syndrome (dry mucous membranes throughout body)
Eye surgery, post refractive surgery (LASIK or PRK)
Contact lens use and contact lens overwear.
Neurologic conditions including: stroke, Bell's palsy, Parkinson's, trigeminal nerve dysfunction
Exposure keratitis, eyelids do not close completely during sleep (lagophthalmos)
Diabetes
Infectious Keratitis, including Herpes Simplex and Herpes Zoster Keratitis
Neurotrophic Keratitis

Dry Eye Symptoms

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Blepharitis

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a chronic and progressive condition that affects the function and structure of the meibomian glands in the eyelids. These glands are responsible for producing the oily layer of the tear film, which helps to lubricate and protect the eyes.

In MGD, the meibomian glands become blocked, inflamed, or damaged, resulting in a reduced production or alteration in the quality of the meibum (the oily secretion produced by the meibomian glands). This can lead to evaporative dry eye, which is a type of dry eye syndrome that occurs when tears evaporate too quickly due to a lack of oil in the tear film.

The common symptoms of MGD include red, itchy, and dry eyes, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and a feeling of grittiness or foreign body sensation in the eyes. The condition is typically diagnosed by an eye doctor through an examination of the eyelids and the use of specialized tests such as meibography or tear film osmolarity measurement.

Treatment for MGD may involve a combination of interventions such as warm compresses, lid hygiene, omega-3 supplements, and medications like antibiotics, immunomodulators or anti-inflammatory drugs. In severe cases, procedures such as meibomian gland expression or thermal pulsation therapy may be necessary to improve the function of the meibomian glands and relieve symptoms.

Treatments For Dry Eyes

Although a complete cure for dry eye is currently unavailable, there are several methods to alleviate its symptoms. The primary objective is to enhance tear production and reduce eye inflammation. Presently, numerous types of medicated eye drops exist to enhance tear production. Additionally, a nasal spray has been developed to stimulate increased tear production. Furthermore, various in-office procedures are available to stimulate tear gland activity around the eyelids and improve tear quality. Over the past few years, there has been significant progress in the range of treatments provided by eye doctors to alleviate dry eye symptoms. To explore how Everyone Eyecare can assist you, schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation today.