Dry Eye
Dry eye syndrome can cause significant reduction in your quality of life It may interfere with your vision while trying to watch TV, read, or drive. People with dry eyes will often feel that their eyes are red, gritty, itchy, tearing, blurry, or just feel tired. The good news is there are a number of therapies for dry eyes. At Eye Consultants of Southern California, we can come up with an individualized plan, tailored just for you, to ensure your eyes feel better and you have the best possible vision.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your own tears are inadequate to provide the lubrication needed for your eyes. Often times the tear film will be abnormal. When you do not have enough tears or if you are producing poor quality tears because of dry eye, then the eyes can become inflamed, red, and uncomfortable. The eyes can also start tearing because they are irritated from not having good quality tears to make up the tear layer.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your own tears are inadequate to provide the lubrication needed for your eyes. Often times the tear film will be abnormal. When you do not have enough tears or if you are producing poor quality tears because of dry eye, then the eyes can become inflamed, red, and uncomfortable. The eyes can also start tearing because they are irritated from not having good quality tears to make up the tear layer.
Symptoms Of Dry Eye
The following can be signs and Symptoms of dry eye disease
- An itchy or burning sensation in your eyes
- Mucus or discharge in or around your eyes
- Inability to wear contact lenses
- Pain when driving, watching TV, reading, or computer work
- Burning with eye medications
- Feeling like something is in your eye or grittiness
- Watery eyes and excessive tearing
- Light sensitivity
- Difficulty driving at night
- Eye redness
- Blurred vision or eye tiredness
Causes
Dry eyes are caused by numerous reasons such as hormone changes, stress, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, aging, environmental exposures, or allergies. Risk factors including aging, living in a dry climate, or having a history of eye surgery. Women also tend to have more dry eye than men.The main causes of dry eye can be thought of based on the following reasons:
- Your glands do not produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist.
- Autoimmune conditions – Sjogren’s disease, thyroid disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
- Medications- antihistamines, hormones, Parkinson’s medications, birth control
- Corneal nerve sensitivity- LASIK or refractive surgery, contact lenses or injury can all cause your eyes to feel dry
- Dry eye symptoms might emerge when normal tear production declines or tears evaporate too fast from the eyes.
- Meibomian gland dysfunction or blepharitis can cause your tear film to not be good quality
- Eyelid abnormalities
- Allergies
- Your tears don’t function effectively enough to keep your eyes moist.
- Pollution or environmental changes
- Weather like a dry climate
- Aging
Diagnosis
At Eye Consultants of Southern California, we will perform several tests to determine the presence and severity of dry eye including:
- A Comprehensive Eye Exam- to understand your overall health and dry eye symptoms
- Measure your tear volume
- Tear film quality test
- Corneal staining test
Treatment
To help with your dry eye disease, different forms of therapy are available to help you feel better and maintain the health of your eyes.
Artificial tears over the counter drops:
For most people using lubrication over the counter drops is enough to help with symptoms. Please ask your doctor to recommend these and whether we have these in stock at our clinic.
Prescription Medicines
Your doctor might recommend a medicine to treat chronic dry eye. These drugs can be administered orally or as ocular drops. These can help to treat inflammation (like Restasis) or steroid drops, or even an antibiotic to help reduce inflammation may be necessary.
Increasing tear production:
Taking an omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplement may also be beneficial.
Eye inserts (punctal plugs):
This is a very common therapy to treat dry eye and are safe and effective.
For many with significant dry eye symptoms, placing an insert to keep more tears on the surface can be incredibly helpful. This treatment prevents your tears from leaving your eye too fast. The plugs are removable. A permanent method that uses heat can be a more permanent solution if plugs are not working.
Light therapy and eyelid exfoliation or massage:
Eyelid cleaning can be useful to remove excess bacteria, toxins, or film that leads to dry and irritated eyes. This only takes a few minutes and can be done every 3-5 months.
Light therapy can also help to liquify hardened oils that are clogging your glands and preventing a healthy tear film layer. This can be done over 3-4 sessions in a 3 month period.
Eyelid massage therapies can be very useful to unclog oil producing glands. Some patients find this process very useful to reduce their symptoms from dry eye disease.
Some Changes That May Help Your Dry Eye Symptoms Include :
- Protective eyewear can help you avoid dry air
- Humidify the air inside.
- Use artificial tears while doing your computer work
- Avoid being around smoke
- Blinking and closing the eyes at regular intervals will help exercise the eyes.