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A Closer Look at Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, A.K.A. Dry Eye Disease

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (ker-uh-toh-con-junk-tih-VY-tis SIK-uh), better known as dry eye disease, is an irritating condition where the amount and quality of a person’s tears are not sufficient to lubricate the eyes properly. Some people with dry eye disease are not able to produce enough tears to keep the eyes moist. Others may produce enough tears, but the tears lack the necessary oils and minerals the eyes need to remain lubricated and comfortable.

Without the right amount of tears or the proper quality of tears, the surface of the eyes can become inflamed, irritated, and even damaged. Patients with dry eye disease tend to experience a painful itch, among other issues.

Let’s take a closer look at dry eye disease, what causes it, what the symptoms are, and what treatment options patients have to restore tear function and regain eye comfort.

What Causes Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye disease develops when there is a disruption to the function of your tear production. Your tears are composed of three primary layers:

  • Mucus – This layer helps bind the tear to the surface of the eye.
  • Aqueous fluid – This watery layer is the thickest of them all and supplies the water your eyes need to stay hydrated. It also helps block or flush out debris, bacteria, and other contaminants.
  • Fatty oils – This outermost layer smooths out the surface of the tear so vision is not warped. It also keeps the rest of the tear from evaporating too quickly.

If your tears don’t produce properly or are imbalanced in any way, you could develop dry eyes.

Causes of Decreased Tear Production

Your eyes could stop producing enough tears for a number of reasons, including:

  • Age-related wear and tear
  • Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, thyroid disease, and others
  • Excessive contact use
  • Hormonal changes, like menopause
  • Laser eye surgery (usually this only causes dry eyes temporarily)
  • Medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, high blood pressure medication, birth control pills, and others
  • Nerve damage

Causes of Increased Tear Evaporation

Your tears can evaporate too fast if your glands are not producing enough of the fatty oils needed to cover the watery middle layer. This lack of oil production can occur because of:

  • Environmental conditions, like excessive wind or smoke- or smog-polluted air
  • Eye allergies
  • Eyelid issues, including ectropion (the lower eyelid turning outward) and entropion (the lower eyelid turning inward)
  • Hormonal changes
  • Parkinson’s disease or other diseases that disrupt motor control and actions like blinking
  • Posterior blepharitis, or inflammation of the meibomian glands (located at the eyelid below the eyebrow)
  • Vitamin deficiencies

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eyes and Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eyes lead to a consistent feeling of discomfort in the eyes. Symptoms include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Eye fatigue
  • Eye mucus
  • Eyes that sting, burn, or itch
  • Light sensitivity
  • Red eyes
  • The feeling of having dirt or grit in the eyes
  • Watery eyes (but not sufficient tear production)

Because of the dysfunction that dry eyes can cause, patients also suffer from side effects like:

  • Not being able to wear contact lenses
  • Not being able to see well enough to drive safely at night

What Are the Risk Factors of Having Dry Eyes?

Several risk factors can increase your chances of developing dry eye disease. Those factors include:

  • Age – People older than 50 have an increased risk of developing dry eye disease since tear production often lowers as we age.
  • Sex – Women experience more severe hormonal changes through events like pregnancy or menopause, which can interfere with tear production.
  • Poor diet – Diets that lack vitamin A or omega-3 fatty acids can increase the chances of developing dry eyes. For more vitamin A, add carrots, broccoli, leafy greens, and fruits to your diet. For more omega-3 fatty acids, increase your fish, walnut, flaxseed, and chia seed intake.
  • Wearing contact lenses – Patients who wear contact lenses for too long or do not maintain proper contact lens hygiene increase the risk of developing dry eyes.

How Can I Treat Dry Eye Disease?

If you suffer from dry eyes or dry-eye-like symptoms, there are treatments and at-home measures you can take to help restore tear production or improve tear quality.

Possible Medical Treatments

  • Artificial tears – Your eye doctor may recommend eye drops or artificial tears that help supplement your tear production and lubricate your eyes.
  • IPL Therapy – Your doctor may recommend intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy that targets gland inflammation and helps boost proper tear production.
  • Punctal plugs – Your eye doctor may recommend plugging your tear ducts to help retain moisture on the surface of the eye and prevent your tears from draining too quickly.

At-Home Treatments or Soothing Measures

  • Avoid blowing air – Be careful not to position your eyes directly in front of fans, hair dryers, air conditioning vents, and other things that blow out air.
  • Apply warm compresses – Wetting a washcloth with warm water and placing it over the eyes can help stimulate tear production, de-clog glands, and soothe irritated eyes.
  • Avoid smoke and smog – Avoid areas where the air quality is low and there are extra airborne irritants floating around.

If you suffer from dry eyes or dry eye disease, talk to the team at Vision Eye Group for individualized care.

Dry eye disease is a condition that you shouldn’t have to suffer through. Our eye doctors can offer the solutions and management methods you need to relieve your eyes and help restore proper tear production. Schedule an appointment with our team today.

Call 478-744-1710 to schedule your appointment.

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