Dry Eye Diseases: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Dry eye diseases are very common health conditions in several parts of the world. According to recent reports, up to a third of adults over 65 years of age suffer from this disease. It has also been found that people with mild symptoms are less likely to report them to the doctor. In contrast, those with the most severe symptoms are more likely to experience a negative impact on their functioning and work productivity.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

The various dry eye symptoms are:

• Redness in the eyes
• Gritty or sandy feeling in eyes
• Itchiness
• Heavy eyelids
• Unable to wear contact lenses
• Sensitivity to light
• Appearance of mucus
• Inability to shed tears
• Having bouts of watery eyes followed by periods of dry eyes
• Reading or computer usage causing eyestrain

Causes of Dry Eyes

The main causes of dry eyes are as follows:

• Environmental factors like dry air and pollution
• Aging
• Various allergies
• Certain medications
• Certain chronic medical conditions
• Contacts
• Air conditioned environment

Types of Dry Eye Diseases

• Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye

  In this condition, the lacrimal glands of the eyes are unable to manufacture enough middle aqueous layer of tears, resulting in low tear production.

• Evaporative dry eye

  This disease occurs when tears start to evaporate quickly as the eyes' meibomian glands don’t produce a strong outer lipid layer of tears.

• Dysfunctional tear syndrome

  It’s a common and complicated condition that affects the ocular surface.

• Lacrimal Keratoconjunctivitis

  This disease causes dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea and adversely impacts the quality and quantity of tears.

• LASIK-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy

  LASIK surgery can impact the tear dynamics resulting in ocular surface desiccation. This can lead to complications like dry eyes.

Treatment for Dry Eyes

Common methods for treating dry eyes include:

• Over-the-Counter Medication

  Dry eye drops (artificial tears) can help lubricate the eyes that may bring relief for a short time. Remember that such eye drops contain preservatives usually meant to prevent the growth of bacteria once the multidose vial is opened. Dry eye drops are typically packed in such containers. There are non-preservative eye drops as well that contain fewer additives. This option is best for people who are allergic to particular ingredients in eye drops.

• Prescription Medication

  Severe symptoms require a prescription from an eye doctor. You can use an immune-suppressing drug like Restasis (cyclosporine) or take Xiidra (lifitegrast) that can, according to medical experts, adequately manage dry eyes. You can use corticosteroid eye drops to reduce inflammation or opt for a tear-stimulating drug, like cevimeline, to improve dry eyes symptoms.

• Surgery

  If you have dry eyes, you can go for procedures that close the tear drainage holes in the inner corners of eyelids. This allows the limited volume of tears to remain on the eyes longer. The tear drainage holes are closed either temporarily (with tiny plugs) or permanently (with surgery).

Home Remedies and Tips for Dry Eyes

There are many home remedies and tips that can help treat dry eyes disease like:

• You can increase the intake of Omega-3. Fish and flax seeds have been proven to decrease the symptoms of dry eyes. You can also take supplements or eat foods that contain high levels of fatty acid.

• Vitamins like Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and B12 are essential to cure dry eyes. Eat a healthy, balanced diet containing a variety of vegetables, fruits, meat, and dairy products rich in these vitamins. Vitamin supplements are also effective.

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to ensure that the eyes produce enough tears to combat dry eyes.

• Avoid alcohol as it causes dehydration and can affect the quality of tears.

• Relax your eyelids with a warm compressor to cleanse the eyelids and improve the oil flow through the eyelid glands.

• Consult your doctor if you are taking prescription medicine for another disease to check if dry eyes might be a symptom of the concerned drug.

• Never direct hair dryers, fans, or heaters directly to your eyes.

Please visit us at Netralayam, the super-specialty eye care centre, in Kolkata if you need treatment for dry eyes or are facing any symptoms for the same. You can also contact our medical team if you have any related queries.