Dry Eye

Millions of Americans suffer from dry eye disease, which becomes more common with age, especially in women over the age of 50. Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Left untreated, dry eye can cause chronic discomfort, blurred vision, and potential damage to the surface of the eye. Learn more about what dry eye is, dry eye symptoms, dry eye causes, dry eye prevention, and how to get dry eye treatment.

WHAT IS DRY EYE?

Dry eye is a condition where the eyes either do not produce enough quality tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. Tears are important because they keep the surface of your eyes smooth, clear, and comfortable. Without enough moisture, your eyes may feel gritty, irritated, or sore. Over time, untreated dry eye can damage the cornea and affect your ability to see clearly.

Imagine trying to blink with sand in your eyes—that’s similar to how dry eye can feel on a daily basis.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DRY EYE?

Your eye doctor can definitively diagnose you with dry eye. However, if you notice one or more dry eye symptoms, you should make an appointment as soon as possible.

DRY EYE SYMPTOMS

Stinging, burning, or scratchy feeling in the eyes
Feeling like something is stuck in your eye (foreign body sensation)
Excessive tearing (paradoxically caused by dryness)
Red or bloodshot eyes
Blurred or fluctuating vision
Eye fatigue or heaviness
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Stringy mucus around the eyes
Trouble wearing contact lenses comfortably
Difficulty driving at night
Increased discomfort after reading, using a computer, or screen time

Dry eye symptoms often worsen over time or with certain activities. If you notice these signs, contact your eye doctor.

WHAT CAUSES DRY EYE?

Dry eye can occur for many different reasons. Some people produce fewer tears as they age, while others may have tear film instability caused by environmental or medical factors.

DRY EYE RISK FACTORS

Aging (more common after age 50)
Female gender (hormonal changes during pregnancy, menopause, or with oral contraceptives)
Certain medical conditions (such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders)
Long-term contact lens use
Eye surgery (such as LASIK or cataract surgery)
Medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medications)
Reduced blinking (common with screen use or reading)
Environmental factors (dry air, wind, smoke, or air conditioning)

DRY EYE PREVENTION

Although dry eye cannot always be prevented, you can take steps to reduce your risk or minimize flare-ups.

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF DRY EYE

Take regular breaks from screen time (follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
Use a humidifier at home or work to add moisture to the air
Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to protect against wind and sun
Avoid smoke and secondhand smoke
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
Avoid overuse of contact lenses
Blink often, especially when reading or using digital devices
Ask your physician if medications may be contributing to dry eye and if alternatives exist
Eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (fish, flaxseed, chia seeds)

LIVING WITH DRY EYE

There is no cure for dry eye, but there are many ways to manage it and protect your vision. Your eye doctor may recommend:

Using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops regularly
Applying warm compresses to improve oil gland function
Cleaning eyelids gently to reduce inflammation
Using prescription eye drops for chronic dry eye
Adjusting computer and reading habits to reduce eye strain
Taking omega-3 supplements to improve tear quality
Considering punctal plugs (tiny devices inserted into tear ducts to reduce tear drainage)

These strategies can significantly improve comfort and quality of life if you suffer from dry eye.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR DRY EYE

If your dry eye is interfering with your daily activities, such as reading, driving, or computer use, it’s important to let your eye doctor know. Report all of your symptoms, including when they are worst, and whether you are taking any medications that may contribute to dryness.

TREATMENT FOR DRY EYE

Dry eye treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. Your
eye doctor may recommend:

Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)
Prescription medications to reduce inflammation (such as cyclosporine or lifitegrast drops)
Punctal plugs to help keep tears in your eyes longer
Thermal pulsation treatment or warm compresses to unclog blocked oil glands
Moisture chamber glasses for severe cases
Lifestyle changes (hydration, diet, environment adjustments)

The very best thing you can do for dry eye is to see your eye doctor regularly and follow their treatment plan. With proper care, you can protect your vision and improve comfort. For more information about dry eye treatment or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office today.

Trukera Osmolarity Testing

Measuring tear osmolarity (concentration on salt in your tears) provides you and your doctor with a clear test result that can help to diagnose problems with the ocular surface including Dry Eye Disease. The tear osmolarity test can also be repeated later on to see whether your treatments are working for you. We can track your numbers over time to monitor your ocular surface health. Osmolarity testing can be used together with other assessments of clinical signs and discussion of your symptoms to uncover your diagnosis. If you have symptoms of dry eye, but have normal tear osmolarity, that is also important for your doctor to know in order to look for other causes of your symptoms.

Osmolarity is an important biomarker of ocular surface health. This testing will help your doctor to better diagnose dry eye and assess response to therapy over time.

OptiLight IPL is the first and only light therapy that is FDA-approved for dry eyes. It is a quick, safe, and effective treatment that helps to restore the meibomian glands with Intense Pulse Light (IPL). A course of treatments typically includes 4 sessions, spaced 2-4 weeks apart. Each session usually takes only 10-15 minutes. You will need to avoid any sun exposure or artificial tanning leading up to your treatment, and will need to remove any makeup immediately beforehand. During treatment, your doctor will apply a coupling gel to the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields. You may experience a warm sensation as light is applied to the skin. The treatment is gentle with minimum discomfort. You may experience an expression of the meibomian glands after treatment.You may also experience skin rejuvenation and a noticeable improvement in your eyelids.

The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System uses pulses of heat to clear obstruction in the Meibomian glands. This is done to treat Meibomian Gland Disorder (MGD) which occurs when the Meibomian glands become stopped up and are unable to produce enough tears to maintain the lipid layer, or the outermost layer of tear film on the eye. Anyone can get MGD, but some of us are more prone to it than others. Contact lens wearers are at higher risk, for instance, as are heavy users of personal electronic devices.

To see whether your dry eye is due to an obstruction of the Meibomian glands, your doctor will first use LipiScan imaging to examine your glands and make a diagnosis. Once it is determined that your eyes could benefit from LipiFlow, treatment can begin. First, your doctor will use numbing drops to ease any potential discomfort from the procedure. Next, the system’s activators—dome-shaped, single-use sterile devices—are placed on your eyes. Their vaulted shape keeps your corneas protected during the treatment, which focuses on the inner eyelids, where the Meibomian glands are located. Using what’s called Vector Thermal Pulsation technology, the activators send heat into the glands inside your lids. This combination of heat plus pressure massages any blockages and liquefies and clears the obstructions that are causing your symptoms. The full procedure typically takes about 12 minutes.