By: Raneem Budair
Our tears are a combination of water which acts as a moisturizing agent, oil for lubrication, mucus, and antibodies as well as other specialized proteins that work to protect the eye against various infections. When our eyes fail to produce this mix of important components, and especially when there is a lack of moisture in our eyes, our tear system malfunctions resulting in Dry Eye Disease (DED) (WebMD, 2022).
Symptoms of dry eye include a scratchy or stinging feeling in the eye, blurry vision, red eyes, and increased sensitivity to light (NIH, 2022).
While natural aging, drug use, and various tear-specific eye conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis can increase your chances of developing dry eye, this condition is actually incredibly common and affects millions of people regardless of the factors listed. In fact, over 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with Dry Eye Disease (NIH, 2022).
Dry eye can be confusing to diagnose because sometimes the eye will compensate for the lack of tears by overproducing tears. This condition is called reflex tearing and it occurs when a distress signal is sent through the nervous system to produce more lubrication for the eye. However, the tears produced as a result of this aren’t normal tears, they are mostly water so while they can wash debris away they aren’t able to coat the eye’s surface and protect the eye from dust and other particles (WebMD, 2022).
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, your doctor can perform a comprehensive dilated eye exam to determine if you have dry eye and if you do, there are a few different treatments that your doctor could administer:
Eye Drops: These over-the-counter artificial tear drops are the most common dry eye treatment used for the more mild cases.
Prescription Medication: In more serious cases of dry eye, your doctor may prescribe medications such as Restasis or Xiidra to increase tear production.
Punctal Occlusion: Punctual plugs are used to close the tear-draining duct in your eye called the punctum. This is first done temporarily to determine its effectiveness and if deemed effective enough, your doctor may opt for more long-lasting plugs that will have a greater impact and reduce your need for artificial tears.
Lipiflow: If your eyelids have blocked oil-producing glands, this treatment will unclog these glands with a medical device that uses heat and pressure to keep your eyes moist and prevent tear evaporation (WebMD, 2022).
The above treatments are all in cases where you have already developed dry eye, but what can you do to prevent this from happening in the first place? Doctors suggest limiting extended screen time. This plays a major role in the development of dry eye if you are not regularly taking breaks and giving your eyes a proper chance to blink in order to replenish the moisture and release the “tear film” that soothes your eyes (Wheeler, 2021). Additionally, you should make sure you are drinking enough water everyday (8-10 glasses) and getting enough sleep (7-8 hours). Keeping a humidifier in your house can also help prevent the atmosphere around you from getting too dry which will directly impact the moisture levels in your eyes (NIH, 2022).
By following these simple steps and regularly getting your eyes checked, you can avoid the unnecessary discomfort and pain that comes with dry eye!
References
NIH. (2022, April 8). Dry Eye. National Eye Institute.
WebMD. (2022, May 12). Why are my eyes so dry? 6 causes of Dry Eyes & How to treat them.
Wheeler, R. B. (2021, December 3). Dry eyes: How screen time parches your peepers. WebMD.
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