Dry Eye Syndrome

Nothing is worse than having dry, itchy eyes! It could be seasonal allergies, or if you find that your eyes are consistently dry, then you may have dry eye syndrome.

Some of the symptoms of dry eye syndrome are: eye fatigue, irritation, grittiness, burning, intermittent blurred vision, and the sensation of dryness. Dry eye syndrome is caused by poor tear production, poor tear quality, or both. It is more common in women and seen mostly in individuals middle age and older.

Some ocular surgeries such as Lasik, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or even cataract surgery, can often cause dry eyes.

Some things you can do to treat dry eyes: Try and use a humidifier and to not sleep with a fan at night. There are some high quality over the counter lubricating drops (Artificial tears), or you could use warm compresses to improve the oil glands in the eyelids. If you end up going to an eye doctor, prescription eye drops can help boost tear production and reduce inflammation. There are also new nasal sprays that can increase tear production as well.

Severe dry eyes could be an indication of an autoimmune condition known as Sjogren’s syndrome. An eye care specialist Md would have to diagnose this.

Here are some procedures that are available to help treat dry eyes: Small punctal plugs are inserted into the tear duct to slow down or block tear drainage so that tears can stay on the eye’s surface longer. There is a procedure called punctal cauterization where the tear ducts are permanently closed to prevent drainage. A non-invasive procedure called (IPL) intense pulsed light uses light to treat the meibomian gland dysfunction which is a common cause of dry eyes where the oil glands in the eyelids are not working properly. There are also eyelid massages, eyelid scrubs, warm compresses, and specialized contact lenses for severe cases.

So if you are experiencing the typical symptoms and over the counter lubricating drops haven’t helped, then it is time to seek an evaluation from your eye care specialist.

Have a happy day!