Dry Eye Syndrome

The eyes are primarily lubricated by tears produced by tear glands located in your upper eyelids. Natural tears make your eye feel cool, comfortable, refreshed, and help prevent infection of your eye and eyelids.

Blinking is important because it spreads a film of tears across the surface of your eyes. The tears coat the eye and then drain out the corner of the eye and through the tear drainage ducts into the nose and throat.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome:

Mucous discharge
Frequent use of lubricating eye drops
Redness
Sandy or gritty feeling
Itching, burning
Constant or occasional tearing
Watery eyes
Light sensitivity
Eye pain or soreness
Lid infections
Styes
Tired eyes
Contact lens discomfort
Contact lens solution sensitivity

Dry eyes are one of the most common medical reasons people visit eye doctors. Dry eye syndrome has many causes. One of the most common reasons for dryness is the normal aging process as the glands that produce the tears decrease their function. Another common cause of dry eyes are systemic medications. Many prescription drugs list dry eyes as a side effect of the medication. This is especially common with oral anti-histamines and many drugs that treat high blood pressure.

Many other factors, such as hot, dry or windy climates, high altitudes, air-conditioning and cigarette smoke also cause dry eyes. Many people also find their eyes become irritated when reading or working on a computer.

Contact lens wearers may also suffer from dryness because many contact lenses absorb some of the tears to stay moist. People with thyroid conditions, vitamin A deficiency, and diseases such as Parkinson’s and Sjogren’s can also suffer from dry eyes. Women frequently experience problems with dry eyes as they enter menopause because of hormonal changes.

Treatment Options for Dry Eye Syndrome:

Artificial lubricating tears or other lubricants

Artificial tears help to temporarily relieve dry eye symptoms. They are used to treat the symptoms of dry eye but also help to keep the surface of the eye healthy.

There are two general groups of lubricants, preserved and preservative-free. Preserved lubricants can be used up to 4 times a day. Preservative-free lubricants can be used as much as needed throughout the day. For people with sensitive eyes that may have reactions to preservatives, preservative-free lubricants are a necessity.

Your eye care provider will prescribe a lubricant based on your needs. There are many different types of lubricants on the market and all are slightly different in their ingredients. Some of these products are watery and alleviate the symptoms temporarily; others are thicker and adhere to the eye longer. Preservative-free tears may be recommended because they have fewer additives that could potentially irritate eyes. Avoid products that whiten the eyes, “get the red out” drops– they do not have adequate lubricating qualities and often increase the dryness. These drops can make redness worse over time.

Lacrimal plugs

Closing the opening of where the tears drain out of the eyes with special inserts called punctal plugs is another option. This works like closing a sink drain with a stopper. These special plugs keep the tears on the eye, retaining moisture.

The procedure is performed with a microscope and local anesthetic in the office. It usually requires two steps. First is insertion of temporary collagen plugs. These plugs dissolve in a few days to a week. Their main purpose is for the doctor to determine if the patient will benefit from permanent punctal plugs.

If the patient does experience an improvement in symptoms, the second step is inserting permanent punctal plugs with the same technique as the temporary punctal plugs. These plugs are made out of silicon and last about 1-2 years in the average person.

Prescription medication

There is one prescription medication available to treat dry eyes. This topical medication targets the inflammation that can cause dry eyes in some people. It must be taken twice a day for several weeks to months before a noticeable change in symptoms is noticed. Once it takes effect, many people can decrease the amount of artificial lubrication they use on a daily basis.

Lifestyle changes

There are also simple lifestyle changes that can significantly improve irritation from dry eyes. For example, drinking eight to ten glasses of water each day keeps the body hydrated and flushes impurities. Try to make a conscious effort to blink frequently – especially when reading or watching television. Avoid rubbing the eyes, because this only worsens the irritation.

It is important to realize that dry eye syndrome is a chronic disease of the eyes that can require many different treatment options based on the severity. The goal of treatment is to decrease symptoms of dry eye. However, treating dry eye problems is important not only for comfort, but also for the health of the eye.

Too much dryness can damage the cornea over time. It can eventually lead to corneal irritation and infections and in extreme situations, may cause severe vision-threatening infections and corneal rupture.

*The information provided by this Web site is for educational purposes only. This Web site is not comprehensive on the topics addressed. It is not a substitute for direct consultation with your health care provider. Always consult a licensed professional regarding your specific condition. Any trademarks referred to are the property of their respective owners.