DRY EYE

Dry eye, also called dry eye syndrome, is one of the most common ocular conditions today. Dry eye problems arise when a person does not have enough tears, or the correct composition of tears, to properly lubricate the eye. Dry eye affects millions of people and while most suffer from mild symptoms that often disappear after a short time, the condition can lead to permanent vision problems. As a result, severe, long-lasting symptoms should be addressed immediately. Read on to learn more dry eye information, including where to find doctors that can treat the syndrome.

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Also known as keratitis sicca, dry eye syndrome is exactly what the name implies; it is characterized by a persistent dry, scratchy feeling in the eyes that usually stems from problems with tear production or drainage. Though usually mild, symptoms can range in severity and lead to a serious decrease in quality of life.

Dry Eye Diagnosis

Dry eye syndrome generally does not require a sophisticated diagnosis. If your eyes feel dry, irritated, or scratchy on a regular basis, you most likely have dry eye problems. Determining the exact causes of your dry eye and the best solution for the condition, however, can be much more complex. To accomplish these goals, your doctor has several tools at his or her disposal.

During your examination, your doctor may give you the Schirmer tear test to measure both the quantity and quality of your tears. For this test, blotting strips are placed under your lower eyelids, and the amount of tears absorbed by the strips is measured after several minutes. There are several other tests available that use special eye drops to measure the evaporation rate of your tears. Depending on the quality and quantity of your tears, your doctor will discuss dry eye treatment options with you.

Causes of Dry Eye Problems

There are myriad causes of dry eye syndrome. The most frequent causes of dry eyes are environmental factors such as overly hot or dry air, high altitude, smoking, or being exposed to smoke in the air. Dry eye problems caused by such irritants can usually be resolved by avoiding airborne irritants or by using eye drops to cleanse the eyes.

Many of the causes of dry eye tend to produce more pronounced results as people age. As a result, adults over the age of 40 are the most likely to experience dry eye problems. Diminished tear production, also known as keratoconjunctivitis, is a common age-related culprit of dry eye. This tends to be more prevalent among women who are experiencing hormonal changes as a result of menopause.

Poor tear quality is another common cause of dry eye. Your eyes are constantly coated in a thin layer of tears, which are comprised of three layers. A change in the consistency of any of these three layers can lead to dry eye syndrome. Too little oil in the tears will allow the middle watery layer to evaporate too quickly. Too little water will prevent the tears from serving their purpose. Too little mucus will prevent the tears from spreading evenly over the eye. Dry eye problems can arise from any number of factors that contribute to the breakdown of this composition.

Eyelid problems or diseases such as blepharitis can lead to dry eye problems as well, though the dryness is usually resolved when the problem is healed. Medications, such as birth control, antihistamines, and sleeping pills can cause dry eye syndrome, and wearing contact lenses can exacerbate the problem as well.

Dry Eye after Refractive (LASIK) Surgery

Following LASIK surgery, it is common for patients to experience dry eye symptoms for a short period of time. For the vast majority of patients, dry eye problems after LASIK are not severe enough to disrupt their daily activities, and most find the problems disappear shortly after surgery. Even most patients who face more severe dry eye syndrome usually find that the symptoms abate within the normal six-month healing period. However, for an unfortunate minority of patients, dry eye can be a lingering problem following LASIK surgery.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye symptoms are quite simple to recognize, and are often impossible to overlook. Dry eye problems involve a near constant feeling of something being stuck in your eye, or a stinging, burning sensation. You may find that you have difficulty wearing contact lenses for any substantial period of time, and your vision may even blur. You may develop stringy mucus in or around your eye, and you may be particularly sensitive to light.

Dry Eye Treatment

Treatment for dry eye syndrome depends largely on the severity of the case and underlying causes. For many mild cases, eye drops may relieve the symptoms. However, if symptoms persist, more intensive treatment may be necessary.

For more severe cases of dry eye, treatment options include several medications designed to decrease inflammation and stimulate production of tears. Surgical operations may be used to partially or completely block the ducts that allow tears to drain away from the eye.

Depending on the root of your dry eye problems, other treatments may be effective as well.