Dry Eyes

What's My Number?

Only a doctor can determine if you have Dry Eye Disease. Your Doctor will ask you to describe your dry eye symptoms and the impact that they have on your daily life. The doctor may perform one or more test to assess your condition. The TearLab® Osmolarity Test gives doctors information about the salt content of your tears, which is an indicator of Dry Eye Disease. Tear osmolarity has been shown to have the best predictive value for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease of any single test. TearLab's sophisticated lab on a chip technology tests a tiny tear sample to measure Osmolarity, or the salt content in the tears. The Doctor will test both eyes, and will take the highest number of the two tests, to generate Your Osmolarity Number. Your Osmolarity Number gives doctors a meaningful measure of the health and stability of the protective tear film that covers the surface of your eyes. The number generated correlates with the severity of the disease. What's Your Number?

 
           

What Is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that affects as many as 10 million people in the United States. Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include burning and an itchy or scratchy sensation, like having sand or grit in your eyes. Many people with dry eye syndrome have intermittent blurry vision that temporarily improves with rapid blinking. There are many causes of dry eye syndrome, but in general, the condition occurs because your tears are either abnormal or they are evaporating from your eye’s surface too quickly.

What Can I Do for My Dry Eyes?

Dry eye syndrome is often a nuisance, and in some cases, can lead to scaring of the eye’s surface with loss of vision. There are several treatments available. These range from simple lifestyle modifications, prescription medications, or punctual plugs depending on the severity of the condition. If you have mild dry eyes, you may be able to improve your symptoms just by changing your environment. Sitting too close to a heating or air conditioning vent exposes the eye to a constant flow of forced air, which can make tears evaporate too quickly. Most heating systems dry out your home’s air even if you don’t sit too close to the vent; a humidifier can help put moisture back into the air. Cigarette smoke can irritate and dry out the eye surface as well, and quitting smoking often improves symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

If your eyes don’t produce enough tears or don’t produce healthy tears, there are tear replacements available. These artificial tears are sold over the counter in most drugstores and grocery stores. If your symptoms are mild to moderate, putting artificial tears into your eyes two to four times daily often helps relieve your symptoms. Artificial tears are available in multi-dose bottles and single-dose vials. The multi-dose bottles are less expensive but contain preservatives that some people cannot tolerate more than four times daily. The single-dose vials contain no preservatives and can be used more than four times daily, but they are generally more expensive.

If you require artificial tears more than four times daily, you may benefit from punctal plugs. The punctum is the opening in the lower eyelid through which your tears drain away. Plugging the punctum makes your tears—or artificial tears—stay on your eye surface longer, which improves your dry eye symptoms. Punctal plugs are quickly, easily, and painlessly inserted during an office visit and provide significant relief for many dry eye sufferers. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with them, they can be removed as easily as they are inserted.

Moderate to severe dry eye may require medical therapy. Prescription eye drops are available that stimulate your tear glands to produce more of your own natural tears. All medications have side effects, and prescription medications can be costly, so this solution may not be for everyone.

If you have dry eye symptoms, talk to one of our dry eye specialists.  Based on your lifestyle and the severity of your symptoms, we will work with you to design a treatment plan to make your eyes comfortable.

 

What Causes Dry Eye?

Environmental Causes: Hot, dry and/or windy climates, High altitudes, Excessive sun exposure, Central heating, Air conditioning, Hair dryers, Cigarette smoke, Air pollution, Air travel
Medications: (prescription or over the counter) Allergy medications, esp. antihistamines, Antidepressants,(e.g. amitriptyline, diazepam), Some blood pressure medications, Parkinson's medications, Birth control pills, Diuretics, Beta blockers, Sleeping pills, Many pain medications, Certain medications which regulate heart rhythm irregularities, Decongestants
Contact Lens Wear: Two million individuals abandon soft contact lens wear altogether each year with nearly 50% of these contact lens "dropouts" attributing dryness or discomfort as the primary reason.
Diseases: Parkinson's disease, Sjögren's syndrome (an auto-immune disease), Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Lacrimal gland deficiency, Diabetes, Sarcoidosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Rosacea: Facial rosacea is commonly associated with ocular rosacea, which causes conditions such as blepharitis
Refractive eye surgeries: Dry eye is the most common complaint or adverse event following LASIK.
Hormonal deficiencies or changes: Thyroid conditions, Hormonal changes during menopause, Decreased production of androgen, Estrogen supplementation -(there are reports both of this improving dry eye conditions and worsening them)

Low blink rate: Blinking is critical in spreading tears over the surface of the eye and stimulating tear production. A chronic low blink rate is associated with dry eye symptoms. Computer use, reading, and watching TV are the three activities most commonly associated with a low blink rate.