Dry Eye
Have you ever had watery eyes? Stinging, burning eyes? Red or irritated eyes? Blurry vision especially when reading?
There’s a good chance you are suffering from Dry-Eye Syndrome. Dry-eye syndrome is a “disorder of the tear film”. Our eyes need tears to stay healthy and comfortable. If your eyes do not produce enough tears, it is called dry eye. Dry eye is also when your eyes do not make the right type of tears or tear film.
What causes dry eyes?
Even when you’re happy, your eyes are full of tears. Tears are formed in your lacrimal gland on the outer portion of your upper eyelids. Every time you blink, tears wash down from the glands over the surface of your eye. They drain out through the punctums into the canals and down into your nasal cavity through the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct.
a. Lacrimal Gland
b. Upper Punctum
c. Upper Canaliculi
d. Lacrimal Sac
e. Lower Punctum
f. Lower Canal Canaliculi
g. Nasolacrimal Duct
Tears are made up of 3 layers that each have their essential, individual functions.
a. The Oily Layer - makes the tear surface smooth and keeps tears from drying up too quickly
b. The Water Layer - cleans the eye, washing away particles that do not belong in the eye
c. The Mucin Layer - spreads and adheres the tears evenly across the eye
The 2 main causes of dry eye are:
1. Decreased Tear Production
This can occur due to age, gland deficiencies, drugs (eg. antihistamines, B-blockers) and/or auto-immune diseases
2. Evaporative Loss
This can occur due to gland dysfunction, low blink rate and/or environmental (contact lens wear, allergy, vitamin A deficiency, topical preservatives)
What can I do to treat my dry eyes?
Treatment for dry-eye syndrome is specific to what the cause is ie. if your eyes are dry due to lack of tear volume, you would need frequent administration of tear supplements. Other methods of treatment are:
● Alternate artificial tear supplements
● Anti-inflammatory eye drops (eg. steroid eye drops)
● Warm compression of your glands
● Gland expression by your optometrist
● Dietary changes (eg. omega-3 fatty acids)
● Environmental adjustments (eg. reduced screen time)
Though dry-eye syndrome may seem straightforward, it involves a complex ongoing cycle between your ocular surface and tears, and the external structures of your eyes such as your eyelids and eyelashes. The best way to treat dry-eye syndrome is to obtain an accurate diagnosis of the cause and treat it accordingly - so call us on (02) 8593 7156 to book an appointment with our highly trained optometrists today!