Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate and unstable for many reasons. For example, dry eyes may occur if you don't produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears. This tear instability leads to inflammation and damage of the ocular surface. Dry eye – but my eyes are watery?
How Do Tears Work?
When you blink, a film of tears spreads over the eye. This keeps the eye’s surface smooth and clear. The tear film is important for good vision.
The tear film is made of three layers:
The oily / lipid outermost layer. It is responsible for providing stability to the tear film and prevents tears from drying up too fast.
The Water / aqueous middle layer. This layer cleans the eye and washes away any foreign particles that enter the eye. This layer is produced by our Lacrimal glands.
The innermost mucous layer. It helps to spread the watery layer over the surface of the eye. In absence to this layer tears will not be able to stick to the eye. This layer is produced by our Conjunctiva.
Normally, our eyes constantly make tears to stay moist. If our eyes are irritated, or we cry, our eyes make a lot of tears. But, sometimes the eyes don’t make enough tears or something affects one or more layers of the tear film. In those cases, we end up with dry eyes.
How Do I know I have dry eyes?
Signs and symptoms, which usually affect both eyes, may include:
A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Sensitivity to light
Eye redness
A sensation of having something in your eyes
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Difficulty with night time driving
Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dried out cells
Blurred vision or eye fatigue
What Can Cause Dry eyes?
Irregular or abnormal blinking. For example, the eyelids do not close fully.
Age, hormone replacement therapy.
Medical conditions such as Sjogren's syndrome, allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Vitamin A deficiency.
Medication including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure, acne, birth control and Parkinson's disease.
Corneal nerve desensitization caused by contact lens use or nerve damage.
Eyelid problems, such as the lids turning outward (ectropion) or the lids turning inward (entropion),Blepharitis.
Overexposure to sun, wind, air conditioners, smoke and aerosols can aggravate dry eye disease.
How is Dry eyes treated?
Dry eye supplements: Omega-3, Vitamin A, Zinc, Beta-carotene and Antioxidants Vitamin C and E.
Avoid air blowing in your eyes. Don't direct hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners or fans toward your eyes.
Add moisture to the air. In winter, a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air.
Consider wearing wraparound sunglasses or other protective eyewear. Safety shields can be added to the tops and sides of eyeglasses to block wind and dry air. Ask about shields when you buy your eyeglasses.
Take eye breaks during long tasks. If you're reading or doing another task that requires visual concentration, Treatment continues… take periodic eye breaks. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Or blink repeatedly for a few seconds to help spread your tears evenly over your eyes.
Position your computer screen below eye level. If your computer screen is above eye level, you'll open your eyes wider to view the screen. Position your computer screen below eye level so that you won't open your eyes as wide. This may help slow the evaporation of your tears between eye blinks.
Stop smoking and avoid smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help devising a quit-smoking strategy that's most likely to work for you. If you don't smoke, stay away from people who do. Smoke can worsen dry eyes symptoms.
Use artificial tears regularly. If you have chronic dry eyes, use eye drops even when your eyes feel fine to keep them well lubricated. Ask you Optometrist which drop to use.
Hot compressors. Apply a hot wet compress (cloth, beanbag) to your eyelids for 5 min daily.
Decrease Contact lens wearing time.
Ask your Optometrist about our dry eye treatment with the use of a Blephasteam and gland expression.