Dry Eyes Disease

What is dry eyes disease?

The surface of the eye needs to be moist in order function properly. This layer of moisture keeps the eye lubricated and comfortable. A good tear film is essential to having good vision as it coats the cornea giving it a smooth surface. Without this coating, microscopic corneal irregularities that are normally present will degrade the quality of vision.

Dry eye disease (or DED) is a common condition and can result from two issues: either not enough tears are being produced or poor quality tears are produced.

As we get older, the glands responsible for producing tears may not function as well. These glands may also be affecting in autoimmune or inflammatory conditions such as Sjogren syndrome.

Tears are made up of a water substance and oil. The balance between these two components is important as too little oil results in a poor quality tear film that dries up quickly.

What are the symptoms of dry eyes disease?

The symptoms of dry eyes include blurred vision, grittiness and discomfort. The severity of these symptoms is influenced by environmental factors and the duration of visual tasks. When the environment is dry, the tear film evaporates quickly. Similarly, we rely on blinking to spread the tear film across the surface. When we concentrate on a visual task, we blink less and the surface dries ou

Changing moisture levels on the surface of the cornea causes a fluctuation in vision. For example, dry eye sufferers may have good vision initially when reading a book or entering a dry environment. This deteriorates as time passes and the tears evaporate.

If poor quality oils are the main problem then, ironically the eyes sense dryness and compensate by producing too much water that can cause the eyes to water. It is therefore very important to have a formal assessment to discover the cause of your symptoms. Only then can the correct dry eye treatment be given.

How do you treat dry eyes disease?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for decreased tear production. However, there are strategies for improving the symptoms of DED. These include staying hydrated and keeping your environment humidified. We use a step ladder approach to managing dry eye so that you receive the correct level of care.

Punctal plugs prevent the any moisture present from draining away naturally and lubricating drops can be used as tear replacements to keep the surface moist.

Hot compresses and eyelid massage can improve the quality of tears by encouraging the flow of oil from the glands present in the eyelids. See blepharitis management for further details.

Intense pulsed light (or IPL) treatment also achieves this by stimulating the oil glands to produce more oil. In cases of severe DED, steroid or immunosuppressant eye drops may be required.