Are you struggling with dry, irritated eyes? You may have dry eye syndrome, also known as dry eye. At Longwood Eye & LASIK Center, our dry eye syndrome specialist conducts comprehensive exams to narrow down the root cause of your condition and recommend advanced treatment options to help you find relief.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly. This can happen due to a deficiency in one of the three components of a healthy tear film: oil, water, and mucus.
Your tear film must contain sufficient amounts of all three components to lubricate your eyes properly. When your eyes are dry, it can put them at risk for irritation and infection, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms like itchiness, redness, and blurry vision.
What are the Most Common Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eyes are not the only symptom associated with dry eye syndrome. Other common symptoms include:
- Irritation
- Watery eyes
- Blurry vision
- Redness
- Stinging, grittiness, or burning sensations in your eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Feeling like there’s something in your eye
- Eye fatigue
- Excess mucus in and around your eyes
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses
If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you should schedule an eye exam to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. At Longwood Eye & LASIK Center, we conduct a test called the Schirmer test to assess the quality of your tears, which helps determine the severity of your dry eye syndrome.
Who is Most Likely to Develop Dry Eye Syndrome?
Anyone can develop dry eye syndrome regardless of their medical history. However, certain factors can increase your risk of developing dry eye syndrome or worsen your condition, including:
Age
Although dry eye syndrome can develop at any age, it is more common in individuals over 50. This is because tear production tends to decrease as a natural result of aging.
Contact Lens Wear
Regular contact use can cause dry eye syndrome, as wearing them can limit the amount of oxygen flowing to the cornea. If your eyes don’t receive enough oxygen, it can affect the tear film and lead to dry eye.
Dry eye syndrome can also occur as a result of improper contact lens care. You should only wear contacts for the recommended period of time and clean them regularly to maintain good eye hygiene.
Excess Screen Use
Excess screen use can contribute to dry eye syndrome. This is because when you are focused on a screen, your blink rate tends to decrease.
Frequent blinking is essential for keeping your eyes moisturized, as it replenishes your tear film every time you blink.
Environmental Factors
Seasonal changes can worsen dry eye syndrome symptoms due to temperature changes, dryness, and seasonal allergens. If you have seasonal allergies, they can block the meibomian glands in your eyelids, affecting tear film production.
Humidity and heat during the summer can also cause dehydration, affecting you and your eyes, so it’s essential to stay hydrated by drinking water. In the winter, the air is cold and dry, which can also contribute to dry eye syndrome.
Other risk factors include:
- Being a woman, especially after menopause
- Having certain autoimmune and thyroid conditions
- Having eye conditions like blepharitis, ectropion, or entropion
- Taking certain medications like antidepressants, decongestants, diuretics, heartburn medication, and antihistamines
- Having ocular rosacea
- Having had certain vision correction procedures like LASIK
How is Dry Eye Syndrome Treated?
Depending on the type and severity of your dry eye syndrome, your eye doctor may recommend treatments such as:
Lifestyle Changes
Small lifestyle changes can often help mitigate mild dry eye syndrome, especially if your eye doctor has identified the underlying cause. For instance, if contact lenses cause your dry eyes, you could reduce the frequency of wearing them or switch to glasses.
Lifestyle changes recommended by eye doctors include:
- Drinking more water
- Using a humidifier in dry areas
- Avoiding smoky or windy environments
- Limiting screen time
- Reducing how often you wear eye makeup
- Changing your diet to incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids
At-Home Treatments
There are a variety of at-home treatments that eye doctors recommend to treat symptoms of dry eye syndrome, including:
Warm Compresses
Warm compresses involve applying a warm, damp towel over your closed eyelids for short periods of time to release meibomian gland blockages. This often soothes inflammation and dryness while allowing for proper tear film production.
20-20-20 Rule
The 20-20-20 rule is useful if you spend prolonged periods of time looking at screens. You should look away from your screen every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
This can give your eyes a break from looking at screens and reduce eye strain, lessening dry eye syndrome symptoms.
Eye Drops
Over-the-counter artificial tears are an effective way to lubricate the eyes and alleviate dry eye symptoms. They are available in different varieties for patients with sensitive eyes and can be used as needed or on a regular basis.
Prescription eye drops, such as Restasis and Xiidra, can be effective treatments for dry eye syndrome when artificial tears aren’t enough. They can reduce inflammation in your meibomian glands, allowing them to produce a healthier tear film.
Amniotic Membrane Therapy
Amniotic membrane therapy utilizes the regenerative properties of human amniotic membrane tissue, which contains powerful anti-inflammatory and healing compounds that work to restore damaged eye surfaces. When applied to the eye, the membrane creates a protective barrier that shields the damaged tissue from further irritation while delivering essential growth factors and proteins that stimulate cellular regeneration.
During the treatment process, your eye doctor will carefully place the thin, transparent amniotic membrane directly onto the affected eye surface, where it remains for several days to allow for optimal healing. Upon completion of the treatment period, patients typically experience significant improvement in their dry eye symptoms.
Amniotic membrane therapy is particularly beneficial for patients with severe dry eye syndrome who have not responded well to conventional treatments such as artificial tears or prescription eye drops.
Start Your Journey Towards Relief Today
The symptoms of dry eye syndrome can be frustrating and uncomfortable to deal with. Your eye doctor at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center can help determine the cause of your dry eye and recommend effective treatment plans to provide the relief you deserve.
Do you think you may have dry eye syndrome? Schedule an appointment with Longwood Eye & LASIK Center in West Springfield, MA, today!
