Dry Eye

Diagnosing Dry Eye

Dry eye can come from a number of causes, both physical and environmental. One common cause is when tears glands slow down tear production – a normal occurrence that happens with age, especially in women going through menopause.

Tear quality may also be the cause of dry eyes. In a normal tear, there are three components – water, mucous, and oil. These three components work together to provide the proper amount of moisture, distribute moisture evenly across the cornea, and prevent evaporation that can cause eyes to become dry. If any of the three components is compromised, the eye may not get the nourishment and protection it needs. Most commonly, there is not enough oil in the tears, leading to the evaporation that causes dry eye.

Diminished tear production may be associated with certain medications, such as antihistamines, birth control pills, diuretics, cardiovascular medications, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatories, and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid problems.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Regardless of the cause of dry eye, the signs and symptoms are similiar. An eye care professional can diagnose dry eye through a comprehensive exam, observing tear flow and quality, as well as examining the cornea and eyelids for the following:

Eye Redness

Eye Irritation

Eye Stinging or Burning

Watery Eyes

Difficulty Wearing Contact Lenses

Your eye care professional will evaluate your eye condition to determine if it is dry eye and a variety of underlying conditions that may be causing dry eye.

Treatment for Dry Eye

Dry eye is treated in a number of ways, to help soothe the symptoms or treat the underlying cause. The most common forms of treatment for dry eye include:

• Minimise drying: avoid dry situations, such as an overheated room, wind or smoke. Outdoors, wear wraparound glasses to reduce drying effect of the wind.
• Artificial tears: comforts eyes by supplementing natural tears, commonly used for mild cases of dry eye
• Prescription eye drops: stimulates the production of natural tears
• Surgery: plugs may be inserted to block the drainage path of tears, or the tear ducts may be removed entirely. Both methods are intended to conserve the tears your eye does produce for a longer period of time.