What are dry eye symptoms?
Typical symptoms are: burning, itching, redness, sandiness or foreign body sensation, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, problems wearing contact lenses, watery eyes.
How is dry eye related to blurred vision?
In order to see well, the cornea must be intact and have a smooth tear film covering it. Imagine wearing glasses…can you see well if there are defects on the surface of the lens? The cornea is a specialized skin (epidermis) that can get chapped like the skin on the rest of your body. If the tear layer is deficient or poor quality, the cornea gets chapped causing a keratitis and the surface is no longer smooth.
How can I have dry eye if my eyes water all the time?
In the eye, there is a neural reflex loop which controls the secretion of the tears specifically in the lacrimal gland (crying gland). Any stimulation to the ocular surface such as inflammation relating to dry eye disease will trigger a response and cause the lacrimal gland to produce tears.
How is dry eye related to allergies?
An allergic response in the eye (from pollen, dander, dust, etc) causes an inflammation. When this occurs, it interferes with tear production; less tears will set off dry eye. Also, a decrease in tears prevents the eye from flushing out the allergen and the allergy gets worse. So, allergies and dry eye disease are intertwined and one can lead to the other. It is important that you are evaluated for both causes so you can get the appropriate treatment.
Why do my eyes feel dry when I wake up in the morning?
Some people sleep with their eyes slightly open (do not have a tight seal between top & bottom lids). That little space gets dried out during the night causing the cornea to get dry and causes the symptoms of dry eye disease. When the doctor looks at these eyes with the bio microscope, she sees a specific dryness pattern on the cornea called exposure keratopathy which requires appropriate treatment.
Why do my eyes feel dry in the afternoon or evening?
A full day of working especially in a dry environment can cause the tears to evaporate causing the dry eye syndrome cascade. Using artificial tears or simply adding a personal humidifier to moisten the air around you can help some people. In some cases, prescription drops can be initiated so you produce more tears to compensate.
Why do my eyes feel dry in front of a computer or electronic devices?
We need to blink about 22 times per minute in order to flush out the stagnant tears and
replenish with fresh tears. When we look at a computer, tablet or cell phone, we only blink
around 10-12 times per minute. When the tear film evaporates too quickly, our cornea is at risk
causing dry eye symptoms and blurred vision.
What is blepharitis?
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the “Blephara” (Greek for eyelids). The eyelid margins contain lashes and behind each lash are glands that produce part of our tear film. The inflammation over time causes swelling, redness and crusting of the eyelids contributing to symptoms of dry eye disease such as grittiness, itchiness, and redness on the eyelids. Although 34 million adults experience it, only about 4.5 million have received treatment. Our doctor has developed a specific treatment procedure that you can do at home or have professionally performed in our office.
What shouldn't I do if I have dry eyes?
Avoid blowing air into your eyes, don't stay in incredibly dry climates for too long, and don't smoke and avoid smoke around your eyes.
What are quick things I can do to help my dry eyes?
A few things you can do to help your dry eyes are to use artificial tears, or eye drops, regularly to lubricate your eyes. Another thing you can do is to wear sunglasses anytime you go outside, and wear other glasses or protective eyewear at other times.
Can dry eyes be cured through treatments?
There is no cure for dry eye. However, IPL (Intense Pulse Light) and other dry eye treatment methods can help manage this condition for long-term relief so that you are far less dependent on drops and your symptoms are significantly reduced.
