What Is Dry Eye And Is It Treatable?

Our eyes are covered in a constant layer of a thin fluid called tear film. Tear film serves several purposes. In addition to keeping the eyes comfortable and able to move around in their sockets easily, the tear film is also important for keeping the outer layer of the cornea in good health and for providing a smooth, refractive surface for vision.

Dry eye, also known as dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome, is a condition that occurs when there is a problem with tear film. Although not considered serious, dry eye can cause unpleasant and often debilitating symptoms.

 

Causes of dry eye
 

There are a variety of different things that can contribute towards the development of dry eye. Determining the underlying cause of your dry eye can be important if your eye doctor is to recommend the most effective treatment. Some of the most common causes of dry eye include:
 

Meibomian gland dysfunction

 

Tear film is made up of three layers. These are an oily outer layer, a watery middle layer and an inner layer made of mucus. If any of these layers aren’t present in the correct quantities, it can drastically affect the quality and effectiveness of tear film. One common problem is a lack of oil in tear film. This is caused by something known as meibomian gland dysfunction – when the glands responsible for producing the oil don’t work effectively. This usually occurs due to a blockage caused by hardened oil deposits that prevent fresh oil from mixing with the tear film to make it slippery and lubricating.
 

Tear film draining too quickly

 

Our eyes have tiny drainage channels that help old and excessive tear film to drain away as necessary. However, some people with dry eye find that it’s caused by their tear film draining too fast, causing the surface of the eyes to become dehydrated.

 

Certain conditions and medications

 

Many people are surprised to learn that there are a range of health conditions and medications that can result in dry eyes too. People who have diseases that affect their ability to make tears, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome and collagen vascular diseases are at greater risk of dry eyes. Meanwhile, many medications list dry eyes as a potential side effect, including some antihistamines, ant-depressants and blood pressure medications.

 

Is dry eye treatable?

Although there’s not currently a permanent cure for dry eyes, there are plenty of different treatment options available that make it much easier to live with the condition. Identifying the cause of your dry eye can help narrow down which treatments might be most effective, but it’s still common for patients to have to try several varieties to find that which suits them best. It’s also not unheard of for patients to use a combination of different treatments.

Some of the treatment options that your eye doctor may suggest could include the following:

Artificial tears. These don’t treat the underlying cause of dry eye but provide much-needed lubrication.

Prescription eyedrops. There are different types available, but most work by reducing inflammation that can be contributing towards problems like meibomian gland dysfunction. There are also some tear-stimulating eyedrops, and antihistamines which can help to reduce the effects of dry eye which are triggered by eye allergies.

Warm compresses. These are particularly good for patients with meibomian gland dysfunction since the warmth helps to break down hardened oil deposits so that they can be released from the glands.

Massage. Massage works well in conjunction with warm compresses to release trapped oils.

LipiFlow. LipiFlow is a technology-based solution that combines heat and massage to treat meibomian gland dysfunction. It is performed in-office.

Punctal plugs.If your eye doctor believes that your tear film is draining too quickly, you may be advised to have a treatment called punctal plugs. These are tiny, biocompatible devices placed into the drainage channels of the eyes to slow the process down and keep tear film on the surface of the eyes for longer.



If you have concerns about dry eyes, or to schedule an appointment to talk to a professional, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team.