Dry Eye: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What is Dry Eye?
Every time you blink, your eyelid spreads tears over your eyes. This mechanism is essential in ensuring your eyes stay lubricated, comfortable and protected, as well as helping you see clearly. Usually, your eyes constantly make tears from a combination of oil, water and mucus layers. This is known as the tear film and largely comes from eyelid glands. Unfortunately, issues with one layer or all three can result in dry eye. Some types of dry eye disease include:

·         Aqueous deficient dry eye – Do you ever feel like your eyes don’t produce enough tears? You might be dealing with inflammation of your lacrimal gland, which is located in the upper outer corner of each eye. Some autoimmune conditions, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, can result in this type of dry eye. 

·         Evaporative dry eye – Does it seem as if your eyes dry up the moment you blink? If so, it could be a meibomian gland dysfunction. This occurs when the oil produced by your eye glands — found near your eyelashes on both lids — is insufficient in quality or quantity. In this situation, the oil layer cannot protect the watery one from drying up, resulting in eye irritation. 

·         Mixed dry eye – Sometimes, people can experience aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye. Usually, the eye doesn’t produce enough tears, and the tear film itself is unstable. 

Causes and Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye on its own is uncomfortable and often occurs when the eye glands are not functioning correctly. As touched on earlier, it can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 10% of people with aqueous deficient dry eye have Sjögren’s syndrome, a condition that often accompanies other immune system disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Furthermore, people with diabetes have a 50/50 chance of developing dry eye as a complication, as high blood sugar can affect the function of the lacrimal gland, which produces the watery tear layer. It can also harm the oil glands in the eyelid. 
 
Thyroid eye disease (TED) and blepharitis are two conditions that can also cause eye issues. In TED, this autoimmune disease inflames the muscles and fatty tissue behind the eye. This can push the eyes forward, causing a bulging appearance. As the pressure on the eyes increases, it can lead to double vision or, in rare cases, blindness. Blepharitis, meanwhile, is when the tiny oil glands near the anterior or posterior edges of your eyelashes become red, swollen, irritated and itchy. It is typified by dandruff-like flakes along the edges of your eyelids.

Additionally, aging can result in decreased tear production, as can taking certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, birth control and others. If you wear contact lenses, you can also become more likely to experience temporary dry eye.  

Dry eye can affect one or both eyes, but it usually tends to impact both. If a singular eye is experiencing dry eye, it often results from eye surgery or another health condition. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), common symptoms include: 

·         Scratchy, irritating feeling like there’s something stuck in your eye

·         Stinging or burning sensation

·         Red eyes

·         Light sensitivity

·         Blurred or changed vision

·         Excessive tear production

·         Eye mucus discharge

Treatment Options
For those with mild or occasional dry eye, using nonprescription eye drops might be enough to manage your symptoms. However, if they persist or become more serious, there are some treatment options:

·         Warm compresses – If you’ve ever had a stye, you know a warm compress can help relieve painful eyelid blockages.

·         Antibiotic eye drops – Inflammation in or around your eye anatomy can block the oil glands that contribute moisture to your eyes. Antibiotic eye drops or ointments can help reduce this inflammation.

·         Tear-stimulating medicines – Some medications can help increase your tear production, lubricating your eye so you can be more comfortable. There’s even a nasal spray that can help. 

·         Blocking tear ducts – An ophthalmologist can insert a small silicone plug, also known as a punctal plug, into your tear duct. This can help stop your tears from leaving the eye too quickly. Your doctor might use thermal cautery to plug the duct with heat as a permanent solution.

·         Eye inserts or specialized contact lenses – If artificial tears aren’t helping, your doctor might prescribe you a small eye insert. This tiny medication goes between your lower eyelid and eyeball, dissolving slowly and releasing a lubricative substance. Meanwhile, some contact lenses, called scleral or bandage lenses, can help protect your eye surface and retain moisture.

Your eye health is serious, and conditions like dry eye can be painful and irritating, reducing your ability to enjoy the things you love. Remaining aware of common symptoms, as well as their root causes, can help you and your doctor resolve this issue quickly. To get more valuable eye health insights, visit healthyvisionassociation.com/articles. 

Articles in this newsletter are supposed to be informative, enlightening and helpful to you. While all information contained herein is meant to be completely factual, it is always subject to change. Articles are not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your doctor before starting any new health routine. 

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