Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment in London
Dry eye symptoms, treatments and more
Dry eye is a condition that is common and affects many people. It occurs when a person does not have enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. This lack of proper lubrication and nourishment can result in decreased vision clarity as well as problems with the health of the cornea, the front surface of the eye. Tears are essential for providing clear vision and keeping the cornea healthy.
As we age, Dry Eye Syndrome (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca) becomes more common and can require long-term treatment. This condition affects the conjunctival layer of the eye, causing the cornea, the front surface of the eye, to become dry. Tears are essential for lubricating the eye as the eyelid blinks, washing away any foreign particles that enter the eye, and helping to keep the corneal surface smooth for clear vision. Additionally, tears help reduce the risk of eye infections.
Why is my dry eye watery?
People who are dehydrated tend to produce tears that are not of high enough quality to help maintain the front surface of the eye. As a result, they produce more poor-quality tears, which leads to an overproduction of the aqueous layer. This overproduction leads to eye tears. It is usually worse when you are outdoors, in air-conditioned environments, or when reading or using a computer (evaporative dry eye).
What symptoms are associated with it?
People may experience a range of symptoms associated with the condition. They may experience an irritated sensation through a foreign body sensation, scratching, watery eyes, or burning eyes. Vision may become blurred. The eyes can appear red and there may be photosensitivity.
What are the causes?
People who suffer from dry eye either have tears that are not of high enough quality or do not produce enough tears.
Poor quality tears
Tears are not only made of water but consist of three layers; oil, water and mucin. The oil layer is the top layer is the oil layer that prevents the water layer from evaporating. It is produced by the meibomian glands in the eyelids. The mucin layer helps to spread tears in the evening over the cornea. If tears evaporate too quickly due to a deficiency of the oil layer (meibomian gland dysfunction) or do not spread through the eye evenly due to a deficiency of the mucin layer dry eye symptoms can develop.
Very few tears-a number of glands around the eyelids produce tears, the most important of which is the lacrimal gland. As we age, tear production tends to decrease. Other medical conditions can also affect tear production such as SJogren syndrome, thyroid eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. When there are too few tears on the eyes, dry eye syndrome develops.
It can be associated with a number of issues including:
- Age. As we get older, we tend to produce fewer tears and many people over the age of 65 experience symptoms associated with dry eye syndrome.
- Gender. Pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and menopause are related to the condition that makes women more likely to suffer from this.
- Blepharitis. Inflammation of the eyelid margin and congestion of the glands that create the oily layer of tears can lead to a lack of an oil layer in the tear film and cause dehydration through dysfunctional tear syndrome.
- Medications. Some medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants, can lead to dehydration and people taking these prescription medications may need to take dry eye drops or other treatments.
- Medical conditions. Patients with diabetes, blepharitis and diabetes mellitus can experience symptoms of dehydration associated with their condition.
- Autoimmune conditions such as thyroid eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and SJ omgren syndrome can cause decreased tear production from the lacrimal glands as well as the salivary glands leading to chronic dryness in the eyes and mouth. These patients are more likely to experience corneal ulcers if dehydration is severe. Corneal ulceration is rare and may require surgical action if it is severe.
- Reading or computer use. Focusing for long periods of time leads to a decrease in the frequency of blinking and can contribute to the appearance of symptoms and dryness on the surface of the eye
- The air. Wind, dry climates, and exposure to smoke can increase the evaporation of tears and contribute to dry eye symptoms.
- Contact lenses. Prolonged use of contact lenses over a long period of time can lead to dehydration.
- Refractive surgery such as LASIK can also reduce the blinking frequency after surgery and cause dehydration.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose dry eye syndrome, an assessment of the eyes must be carried out at a dry eye clinic. This includes taking a detailed history to determine when the symptoms began, if there are any other health conditions, medications, or environmental factors that could be making the eye problem worse. Additionally, the eyelid structure and blinking will be assessed, as well as the front of the eye and the cornea with light and microscopic magnification. To further assess the tear production and evaporation rate, dyes may be used to measure the tear flow and any changes to the ocular surface that may occur if the symptoms persist.
With the information collected, Mr. Ahmad Aziz from his eyes defined clinic in London can then assess the dry eye syndrome and determine what treatment will be most likely to be effective.
How do you treat dry eye?
For people with dry eye disease, there are several treatment options that can help to reduce dryness and discomfort, while preserving the health of the eyes.
Conserving tears
Applying
warm compresses or using a thermal eye mask daily can help encourage the
release of the oil layer from the tear film on the eye. This will help prevent
the tears from evaporating and keep the tears they are currently producing on
the eye longer. If there are very few tears produced, small silicone tampons
can be placed at the point that is the opening of the lacrimal canal of the
lower eyelid. This will reduce the amount of tears that drain naturally
allowing the tears to stay around the eye for longer.
Increasing tear production
In cases of Sjogren’s syndrome, where there is a deficiency in tear production,
medications can be used to help increase tear production. However, this method
is not always preferred as the medications can also increase the production of
sweat glands in the body, which may not be desirable for all individuals. An
alternative way to increase tears is to take a supplement such as Omega 3, as
it may help to balance the Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio in the body. While there is
conflicting research data on this, it may be worth exploring as a natural way
to increase tear production.
Treating inflammation
A hot flannel or a thermal eye mask can also help with any blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelids In severe cases there can be inflammation on the front surface of the eye.
Anti inflammatory drops
A more recent treatment that is administered once a day may be used to help with this and relieve symptoms.
Adding tears
For mild cases of dry eyes, preservative-free artificial tears can be an effective treatment. It’s recommended to try different brands of eye drops if one does not work as desired, as different formulations can have different effects. Artificial tears can be purchased over the counter and can help reduce symptoms of dryness before seeking medical help.
How can I prevent the symptoms from developing?
Dry eyes symptoms can be managed in many cases by taking the following lifestyle changes:
- Blink regularly when using a computer screen or reading for extended periods of time.
- Increase the humidity of the air at work or home and avoid air conditioning as much as possible, as it can increase the evaporation of natural tears.
- Wear sunglasses with wraparound frames when outdoors to protect your eyes from the wind and the sun.
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may help some people.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day, aiming for 2 litres per day to prevent dehydration.
- Direct car heaters away from your face when driving to avoid having your tears evaporate too quickly.
