Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry Eye Syndrome is very common and may occur in a variety of ways. Dry Eye symptoms include burning, stinging, sandy, gritty, painful eyes. Many times patients complain of pain under their upper lid, this pain may actually be caused by a dry spot. Patients sometimes have watery eyes; this may occur as a reflex because the eye is actually dry! Sometimes vision may get Blurry, this is because the tear film acts as a lens to help you see clearly; and when it’s gone or unstable you’re missing that extra bit of power.
Dry Eyes can be caused by different medications (Contraceptives, Anti-Histamines, Beta Blockers etc), dry environments (Air Conditioner, Fan, Heater), Health Conditions (Menopause, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren Syndrome), Poor Blinking (Patients tend to stare at their Computer, Incomplete Blinking, Sleeping with eyes slightly open), LASIK (sometimes the corneal nerve that tells the eye its dry is chopped off, so without the eye knowing its dry it may not produce as much tears), Pterygiums and Pingueculas, or Blepharitis.
There are many different Types of Dry Eye. Remember the Tears are actually produced by different glands, some producing Oil, some producing mucus, and others producing Aqueous (watery).
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: MGD or Posterior Blepharitis is caused by the blockage of the Oil glands in the upper and lower eyelid margins behind the lashes. These glands may be viewed under the slit lamp microscope by your Eye Care Professional. As Patients hit their 40’s and 50’s the oil produced in these glands start to thicken and become toothpaste like. If these oils don’t join the rest of the tears, the tear film may become Unstable. To stabilize the tears you may use an artificial tear like Systane Balance which is made specifically for patients with MGD. You may also try Warm Compresses to melt the toothpaste like oils and follow up with Lid Massage to push the oils out. If the glands are severely clogged your optometrist may express the glands with the use of Anesthetic and Q-tips, or prescribe you an antibiotic which actually changes the consistency of the oil so it comes out of the gland more easily. Omega-3 Fatty Acids have also been shown to change the consistency of the oils in the tear glands allowing the oil to expel more easily.
Unstable Tear Film: This may be caused from MGD, Pingueculas, Pterygiums, or Poor Blinking. Unstable tear films happen when a patient blinks and the tear film breaks apart immediately due to poor composition. This may be tested by your Eye Care Professional with a Tear Break Up Time test. This may be treated with Artificial Tears to stabilize the film or Prescription medicines such as Restasis which creates more tears and a more stable tear film. Restasis is usually given when Artificial Tears are not doing the job.
Tear Deficiency: You’re just not making enough tears. This may be tested by your Eye Care Professional using Schirmer Tear Strips. This can be from Menopause, Arthritis, Dry Environments, Medications, or LASIK. Artificial Tears or Restasis can create more tears. Punctal Plugs can help save the tears you have by blocking the tear drainage canals.
For More Information about Dry Eye Treatments click Here
For More Information about Dry Eye click Here
Dry Eyes can be caused by different medications (Contraceptives, Anti-Histamines, Beta Blockers etc), dry environments (Air Conditioner, Fan, Heater), Health Conditions (Menopause, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren Syndrome), Poor Blinking (Patients tend to stare at their Computer, Incomplete Blinking, Sleeping with eyes slightly open), LASIK (sometimes the corneal nerve that tells the eye its dry is chopped off, so without the eye knowing its dry it may not produce as much tears), Pterygiums and Pingueculas, or Blepharitis.
There are many different Types of Dry Eye. Remember the Tears are actually produced by different glands, some producing Oil, some producing mucus, and others producing Aqueous (watery).
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: MGD or Posterior Blepharitis is caused by the blockage of the Oil glands in the upper and lower eyelid margins behind the lashes. These glands may be viewed under the slit lamp microscope by your Eye Care Professional. As Patients hit their 40’s and 50’s the oil produced in these glands start to thicken and become toothpaste like. If these oils don’t join the rest of the tears, the tear film may become Unstable. To stabilize the tears you may use an artificial tear like Systane Balance which is made specifically for patients with MGD. You may also try Warm Compresses to melt the toothpaste like oils and follow up with Lid Massage to push the oils out. If the glands are severely clogged your optometrist may express the glands with the use of Anesthetic and Q-tips, or prescribe you an antibiotic which actually changes the consistency of the oil so it comes out of the gland more easily. Omega-3 Fatty Acids have also been shown to change the consistency of the oils in the tear glands allowing the oil to expel more easily.
Unstable Tear Film: This may be caused from MGD, Pingueculas, Pterygiums, or Poor Blinking. Unstable tear films happen when a patient blinks and the tear film breaks apart immediately due to poor composition. This may be tested by your Eye Care Professional with a Tear Break Up Time test. This may be treated with Artificial Tears to stabilize the film or Prescription medicines such as Restasis which creates more tears and a more stable tear film. Restasis is usually given when Artificial Tears are not doing the job.
Tear Deficiency: You’re just not making enough tears. This may be tested by your Eye Care Professional using Schirmer Tear Strips. This can be from Menopause, Arthritis, Dry Environments, Medications, or LASIK. Artificial Tears or Restasis can create more tears. Punctal Plugs can help save the tears you have by blocking the tear drainage canals.
For More Information about Dry Eye Treatments click Here
For More Information about Dry Eye click Here