Dry Eye

• Redness in the eyes
• Burning or stinging sensations
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery eyes (due to irritation)

• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Feeling of having something in your eye (foreign body sensation)
• Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
• Irritation when in smoky or windy environments

Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eye can occur for various reasons, including:

Age: As we age, tear production tends to decrease, particularly after the age of 50. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are more often affected, especially after menopause.

Environmental factors: Dry or windy weather, smoke, air conditioning, and high altitudes can contribute to dryness.

Medical conditions: Certain health conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid problems, may increase the risk of dry eye.

Medications: Some medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, beta-blockers, and diuretics can decrease tear production.

Contact lens wear: Prolonged use of contact lenses can reduce tear film stability and cause dryness.

Smoking: Smoking reduces the quality and quantity of the tears your eyes produce as well as increases the evaporation of tears from the surface of your eyes. The smoke itself can irritate the eyes, making them feel gritty, burning, or sensitive to light. Smoking can cause inflammation in the eyes and the tissues surrounding them, worsening the symptoms of dry eye.

Poor lid hygiene: Demodex blepharitis is a form of blepharitis caused by an overgrowth of tiny mites called Demodex that naturally live on the skin, especially around the eyelash follicles. While these mites are usually harmless in small numbers, an overgrowth can cause irritation, inflammation, and contribute to eye problems, including dry eye.

Treatment Options for Dry Eye

Dry eye can often be managed with a combination of treatments, such as:

1. Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops help replace lost moisture on the eye. Preservative-free eye drops are available OTC if you are sensitive to preservatives, or if you require eye drops more than every 4 hours.

2. Prescription Eye Drops: Medications like cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra) reduce inflammation and increase tear production.

3. Punctal Plugs: Tears drain off of the eye through a small channel on the inner corner of the eye into the nose. Small devices known as ‘punctal plugs’ are placed in these tear duct channels to help retain moisture on the surface of the eye.

4. Lifestyle Changes:

• Use a humidifier in dry environments.
• Wear sunglasses or wraparound glasses to protect your eyes from wind and dust.
• Take regular breaks from screen time to prevent eye strain.
• If you’re a smoker- quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your eye health. It can help reduce irritation and improve tear production.

5. Meibomian Gland Expression: Your eyelids have tiny glands, known as meibomian glands, that produce oil that coats the eye, keeping them hydrated and comfortable. When these glands become blocked, you may experience irritation, vision fluctuations, or watery eyes. A newer treatment, like TearCare uses therapeutic heat to liquefy stagnant oil and manual expression to remove the obstructions in the oil glands to restore the tear film’s protective barrier.

6. Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL): A newer treatment that uses light therapy to reduce inflammation and improve the function of the meibomian glands, responsible for producing the oily layer of tears.

7. Lid hygiene and warm compresses: Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, particularly the areas where the eyelashes grow. It can affect the function of the oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian glands), which are crucial for maintaining a healthy tear film on the surface of the eyes. Regular cleaning of the eyelids with warm compresses and gentle lid scrubs can help clear away debris and reduce inflammation.

*Note: Consult with an eye care professional for personalized treatment.*