What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common condition caused by the eyes not producing enough tears or when the tears are so low-quality that they aren’t able to keep the eyes properly lubricated.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Various factors contribute to the development of DES. These factors include aging, hormonal changes, certain medications, environmental factors like dry or windy climates, prolonged screen time, and underlying medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders.
Most cases of dry eye are caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) which occurs when oil glands become clogged. MGD often results in poor tear quality, leading to dry eye.
Women are also more likely than men to experience dry eye due to hormonal changes caused by contraceptives, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. Statistics show that women over 50 are twice as likely to experience dry eye than their males in the same age bracket.
Understanding the root cause of your dry eye is essential for creating an effective treatment approach, which is why Dr. Michele Domiano will conduct an evaluation to identify the underlying factors triggering your DES symptoms.
Common Dry Eye Symptoms
DES can manifest with a range of symptoms, including:
- Dryness
- Itching
- Burning or stinging sensations
- Redness
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- A feeling of grittiness or foreign body sensation in the eyes
These symptoms can significantly impact your comfort and visual function.
Rubbing your eyes may offer temporary relief from the discomfort, but can actually worsen your symptoms in the long-run. This is because the pressure caused by eye rubbing can intensify pain, or you may unintentionally transfer germs to your eyes and cause an eye infection. Eye-rubbing can also easily rupture the blood vessels in your eyes, resulting in your eyes looking even redder.
Blinking is another way people with dry eye try to alleviate their symptoms. In general, blinking is important for keeping the eyes lubricated and removing any foreign particles. People who blink less are more susceptible to dry eye, which is common if an individual spends excessive amounts of time on digital devices.
Lastly, artificial tears are often used to provide relief from DES symptoms, but unfortunately, it’s often temporary. Artificial tears can contain preservatives, which can harm your eye health in the long run. They can also be costly and time-consuming, which is why you should see a dry eye doctor, such as Dr. Michele Domiano, for long-lasting relief.
Dry Eye Treatments
Common dry eye treatments include lubricating eye drops, lifestyle modifications, environmental changes to reduce eye irritation, warm compresses and eyelid hygiene techniques.
Depending on the underlying cause and severity of your condition, advanced therapies such as punctal plugs may be recommended. They prevent tears from draining by sitting in the tear duct, which allows for proper lubrication.
Dry Eye Technology
We stay at the forefront of advancements in medical technology to provide the latest and most effective treatments for dry eye, including InflammaDry, LipiFlow, and TearLab.
Doing so allows us to get to the root of our patients’ dry eye symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan that offers long-term relief.
InflammaDry
The InflammaDry system allows us to measure the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in tears, a protein that is often elevated in patients with DES.
This non-invasive test works by allowing the eye doctor to collect tears from the lower eyelid and analyze them in as little as 10 minutes. It’s also disposable and performed in-office, making it highly convenient for both eye doctors and patients.
LipiFlow
The meibomian glands are oil-producing glands that are found near the eyelashes and eyelid edge. They play an important role in lubricating the eyes and maintaining tear moisture by secreting oils. However, when these glands become clogged, it can lead to dry eye.
LipiFlow assesses meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) by capturing detailed images of the tear film. After this, gentle heat and light pressure will be applied to the inside and outside of your eyelids, effectively clearing blockages and stimulating natural moisture production in the eyes in just 12 minutes.
TearLab
The TearLab device accurately measures high tear concentration levels, allowing prompt diagnosis of DES.
The TearLab device consists of three parts: the test card, test pen, and countertop unit. The test card is a disposable microchip that’s used to collect a tiny tear fluid sample in less than 30 seconds. This test card is then inserted into the test pen, which analyzes the sample and transmits the data to the reader located in the countertop unit. The unit will display the test results within seconds.