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Are you familiar with dry eye syndrome? Could you be one of the five million Americans suffering from it?
Dry eye syndrome (also known as dry eyes and dry eye disease) has been on TV quite a lot recently thanks to a new initiative featuring Jennifer Aniston to raise public awareness of dry eye syndrome. Perhaps you’ve even heard her talking about her battle with chronic dry, itchy eyes. Dry eye syndrome a serious and progressive condition that can affect our eye health as we age if not diagnosed and treated properly. So for Healthy Aging Month, as we look at healthy aging eyes, we thought it important to explore and discuss dry eyes. |
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
A continuous layer of tear film protects our normal, healthy eyes. This protective film or barrier is comprised of three layers, each produced by a different part of our eye:
- Inner mucin (mucus) layer
- Middle water (aqueous) layer
- Outer oil (lipid) layer
Each of these layers must work together properly to protect our eyes sufficiently. In addition, any excess tears our eyes produce must be drained by small ducts in our eyelids each time we blink to keep our tear system functioning normally.
As we age, our tear production may decrease, and inflammation may change the composition or make-up of our tears. Either one of these changes can allow tears to evaporate, causing dry spots to form on our cornea, the outer protective layer of our eyes. These changes on the surface of our eye can affect the signals our eyes send to our brains. In some cases, the message to create more tears might not get through to the brain. In others, the brain may produce more tears, but of poor quality, which can lead to watery or runny eyes.
Why Is Dry Eye Syndrome Such a Big Deal?
Who Is at Risk for Developing Dry Eye Syndrome?
Are there other factors that can contribute to the development of dry eye syndrome? In fact, there are many. Some common ones include:
- Taking certain medications, including antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medication, and birth control pills.
- Having insufficient humidity in your indoor environment.
- Living in a hot and / or dry climate.
- Being exposed to windy climates or airconditioning.
- Having a systemic disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rosacea, or Sjögren syndrome.
- Blinking too little, often caused by activities such as prolonged computer use and reading.
- Using contacts long-term.
- Having eyelids that don’t close completely.
- Having eyelid disease or diseases of the glands in the eyelids.
- Smoking.
LASIK or other refractive eye surgery can also lead to dry eye syndrome. Typically this is temporary and often resolves within the normal six-month healing period following surgery.
For a more extensive list of causes and risk factors, visit the National Eye Institute’s Facts About Dry Eye.
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?
- Stinging
- Burning
- Sandy or gritty feeling
- Watery eyes
- Dry eyes
- Tired / fatigued eyes
- Stringy discharge from the eyes
- Pain and redness
- Blurred vision
- Heavy eyelids
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses
- Decreased tolerance for activities that require sustained visual attention, such as prolonged computer use and reading
We may experience some of these dry eye symptoms temporarily due to environmental conditions, traveling, a cold, allergies, or the like. If any of these symptoms persist, however, it’s important to visit your eye doctor to be evaluated for dry eye syndrome.
How Is Dry Eye Syndrome Detected or Diagnosed?
As part of the comprehensive eye exam, the eye doctor may utilize the Schirmer tear test to understand tear production. During the test, a piece of blotting paper, which collects tears, is placed under the lower eyelid for five (5) minutes. At the end of the test, the eye doctor measures the quantity of tears absorbed over the five-minute period.
In addition, special drops can be used to examine the condition of the cornea. This allows the eye doctor to detect areas that are lacking proper lubrication and protection from tears.
How Is Dry Eye Syndrome Treated?
There is a great deal of information available on the treatment available for dry eye syndrome. If you would like to read more, please visit our Medical Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome page, as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Dry Eye Treatment.
What to Do if You Suspect You Have Dry Eye Syndrome?
As we have seen, it’s important to have our eyes examined regularly and dry eye symptoms managed properly so our eyes can age healthily. In our next blog post for Healthy Aging Month, we’ll look at ways to maintain the youthful look of our eyes as we age.