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Dry Eyes

When the patient enters the office and says; "My eyes have a burning sensation and I seem to have redness and irritation," "My eyes feel as if I have sand in them," or "My eyes seem to water all the time," more often than not, the patient is describing dry eyes. The formal name for this condition is keratoconjunctivitis siccia, the easier name to remember is dry eyes. These are common complaints from patients with dry eyes, and their symptoms, which can range from very mild to severe, are very real.

What causes dry eyes?

The condition is caused by a decrease in tear production or reduced oil secretion by the meibomian glands, which are located on the inner margin of the eyelids.

How does dry eyes occur?

Dry eyes occurs when not enough tears are produced or when the tears produced do not function normally. Breaks in the oily outer layer of the tear film allow more rapid evaporation of the middle aqueous or tear layer. If dry spots occur in the tear film layer over the cornea, the patient experiences blurred vision. Symptoms often seem worse in dry or windy environments or when the patient is in heavily heated or air-conditioned areas. In some cases, dry eyes are associated with allergies, medications and some systemic conditions. In most cases, there may be no underlying disorder.

Why are tears so important?

Tears are what make the eye's surface smooth and allow vision to be clear. The tear film is evenly spread over the surface of the eye when lids close during a blink. There are three layers to the normal tear film and each layer has a job to accomplish. The outer oily layer is the first optical surface that light entering the eye passes through. The middle watery layer keeps the eye moist and flushes away foreign debris. The inner mucus layer serves as a reservoir for the external eye's natural defenses against infection and inflammation.

Who is likely to have the dry eyes condition?

Dry eyes affects approximately 14.60% of patients over the age of 65, as well as approximately 11% of those aged 30 to 65 years. The majority of dry eyes patients are women.

 

What can be done to help with dry eyes?

The dry eyes condition does have some options for treatment.

  • Lubricating drops are usually the first suggestion for relief from the annoying symptoms. The over-the-counter artificial tear drops or ointment help the patient to maintain appropriate tear film balance or to keep the external eye moist.
  • Punctal plugs have proven to be an effective treatment for many patients. The plugs fit in the tear canal, unseen and unfelt, and allow the tear layer of the lower lid to rise to normal comfortable levels.
  • The latest advancement in treating dry eyes is a new drug called Restasis®. This prescription medication works in a different way. It contains ingredients that help the patient's eyes increase their tear production. This medication actually treats the lacrimal gland and the ocular surface, and, in a sense, reverses the inflammatory process and thus the dry eye condition. This medication is currently only available by prescription.

For more information, please contact the patient advisor by phone at 330-747-2733 or by email at info@eyecareassociates.com.

 

 
Disclaimer: The intent of this website is to educate users about eye care. Information found on this website is not intended to replace medical advice. Questions about treatment information should be addressed by your physician.