Dry Eye Syndrome: More Common Than You Think
Suffering from itchy, stinging eyes? Is your vision looking a little blurry? Does it feel like your eyes took a trip to the Sahara? It could be dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye is extremely common and can be a chronic and typically progressive condition. But in most cases, dry eyes can be managed successfully, resulting in noticeably greater eye comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms, and sharper vision.
WHAT CAUSES DRY EYE?
Put simply, our eyes require tears to stay healthy. Dry eye syndrome is caused by a lack of moisture and lubrication in the eye. While the factors and triggers in the dry eye can be complex, dry eye syndrome typically arises under two scenarios:
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Our eyes don't produce enough tears, or
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The tears are of poor quality or evaporate too quickly.
HOW COMMON IS DRY EYE?
Dry Eye is extremely common. According to a study in the October 2017 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, dry eye has been diagnosed in more than 16 million American adults, Those between the ages of 45 and 54 and those 75 and older are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition. Dry eyes are more common in women. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes brought on by menopause, oral contraceptives, and pregnancy. Because dry eye symptoms often look like other issues such as allergies, chronic dry eye may be underdiagnosed.
DRY EYE RELIEF
Dry eye can be an annoying and even debilitating condition, but it is also very treatable. Learn more about this condition, its symptoms, triggers, and prevention by following the links below.
DRY EYE SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of dry eye can include:
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A sandy or gritty feeling
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Blurry vision (made worse when reading, computer, watching television, or driving)
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Burning
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Discharge
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Eye fatigue
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Eye pain and/or headache
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Frequent blinking
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Heavy eyelids
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Itching
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Light-sensitivity
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Matting or caking of the eyelashes (usually worse upon waking)
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Redness
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Scratchy or foreign-body sensation
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Tearing
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Watery eyes
WHY ARE MY EYES SO DRY?
Do you spend a lot of time on your smartphone or laptop for work? Or maybe you have seasonal allergies and frequently find yourself reaching for your bottle of antihistamines. The truth is that there are as many triggers for dry eye as there are symptoms, many that would never cross our mind on most days. Some of the most common triggers are:
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Wearing contact lenses or having vision correction surgery.
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Excessive smartphone and digital device usage.
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Age and hormonal changes affecting tear production.
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Certain medications, such as antihistamines or blood pressure medication.
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Environmental factors such as sun, wind, or pollution.
Fortunately, many of these triggers are lifestyle based and can be mitigated with some preventative measures. Click here for a list of helpful tips!
TREATING DRY EYES: RELIEF IS IN SIGHT
The goal of treating dry eyes is to restore the health of the tear film, bringing moisture back into the eye and improving the patient's quality of life. Since dry eye is a disease of the surface of the eye and inflammation of the eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction), both conditions need to be treated.
This is a step-wise approach, meaning that when a patient fails to respond to one treatment, additional treatments are needed. Your doctor will work with you on determining the correct treatments as well as the number of treatments required for symptom relief.
EYE DROPS: THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE
Over-the-counter artificial tears and eyelid hygiene are the first line treatments of dry eye disease. Most doctors recommend using artificial tears two to four times daily and artificial tear ointment at bedtime. This is combined with warm compresses and eyelid washes to promote healthy melbomian glands.
PUNCTAL PLUGS
Punctal plugs can be placed in the drainage structure of the eye (punctum) to allow tears to stay on the surface of the eye longer. This often results in symptomatic relief as the eyes remain better lubricated.
Punctal plugs do not address the underlying inflammation related to dry eyes. Additional treatments are often needed in patients with severe dry eyes.
INTENSE PULSED LIGHT (IPL) TREATMENT
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a treatment that uses a hand-held applicator to deliver an intense pulse of light to the surface of the skin. The light targets the inflammatory cells in the face and eyelid skin which reduces redness and promotes healthy melbomian gland function. This leads to a healthy tear film.
Patients find this procedure quick and easy with minimal downtime and quick results. The number of treatments needed will depend on the patient. This is the ideal treatment for patients who have difficulty applying or remembering to take drops, those who want an ‘all-natural’ treatment, and those who have primarily mebomian gland disease. Unlike other options, IPL treatment addresses the root cause of evaporative dry eye and can lead to more sustained relief.
DRY EYE TIPS: Keeping Your Eyes Hydrated
Because dry eye can be caused by both environmental and medical factors, there are several steps one can take to lower the risk of developing dry eye as well as mitigate existing symptoms.
1. Manage environmental factors
Avoid environments with a lot of air movement, such as windy areas, and wear sunglasses to prevent the wind from drying your eyes out. If possible, limit your indoor use of fans or hair dryers. Humidifiers can also go a long way in keeping the air around you moist, particularly in the winter.
2. Avoid smoking
As if you needed another reason to quit smoking! Along with the plethora of health conditions brought on by smoking, smokers are also twice as likely to develop dry eye syndrome. Second-hand smoke can also lead to the proliferation of dry eye for those around you. The damage to your vision doesn't end there, though - smokers are twice as likely to develop cataracts and three times as likely to develop age-related macular degeneration.
3. Supplement with Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Some individuals report dry eye relief after adding omega-3 fatty acids to their diet. These can be found naturally in foods like oily fish and flax seeds, but can also be purchased in liquid or pill form.
Dry Eye In The Digital Age
As many as 60% of Americans spend 5 hours or more in front of smartphones, laptops, and other digital devices. While many of us think of this device usage as just a consequence of 21st-century living, our reliance on technology can leave our peepers parched. Fortunately, there are ways to lessen the damage without tossing out your smartphone:
1. Follow the 20/20/20 rule.
Take a 20-second break from your digital device every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away. Set an alarm on your smartphone as a reminder.
2. Make sure you blink!
Normally, we blink every twenty seconds or so. Blinking releases a tear film that coats your eyes and helps keep them moist. However, we don’t blink as often when we’re on the computer or watching television.
3. Check your posture and adjust the brightness.
Make sure you’re sitting at least 25 inches away from the screen while you work. If possible, lower the screen brightness to a setting so that it's not the brightest object in the room.