Understanding Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is caused by a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. Consequences of dry eyes range from subtle but constant eye irritation to significant inflammation and even scarring of the front surface of the eye.

In addition to being called dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease, or simply "dry eye," alternative medical terms used to describe dry eyes include:

• Keratitis sicca. Generally used to describe dryness and inflammation of the cornea.
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Used to describe dry eye that affects both the cornea and theconjunctiva.
• Dysfunctional tear syndrome. Used to emphasize that inadequate quality of tears can be just as important as inadequate quantity.

Dry eyes can become red and irritated, causing a feeling of scratchiness.

Prevalence Of Dry Eye

Dry eyes are very common, and dry eye syndrome is a major reason for visits to the eye doctor. A recent online poll revealed that nearly half (48 percent) of Americans age 18 and older regularly experience dry eye symptoms.

Also, results from a 2012 Gallup poll show that more than 26 million Americans suffer from dry eyes, and this number is expected to increase to more than 29 million within 10 years.

Other sources estimate that nearly five million Americans age 50 and older have clinically significant dry eye syndrome, and dry eyes affect nearly twice as many women as men.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye syndrome include:

• Burning sensation
• Itchy eyes
• Aching sensations
• Heavy eyes
• Fatigued eyes

• Sore eyes
• Dryness sensation
• Red eyes
• Photophobia (light sensitivity)
• Blurred vision

Another common symptom is something called a foreign body sensation — the feeling that grit or some other object or material is "in" your eye.

And as odd as it may sound, watery eyes also can be a symptom of dry eye syndrome. This is because dryness on the eye's surface sometimes will over-stimulate production of the watery component of your tears as a protective mechanism. But this "reflex tearing" does not stay on the eye long enough to correct the underlying dry eye condition.

In addition to these symptoms, dry eyes can cause inflammation and (sometimes permanent) damage to the surface of the eye.

Dry eye syndrome also can affect the outcomes of LASIK and cataract surgery.

What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

An adequate and consistent layer of tears on the surface of the eye is essential to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable and seeing well. Tears bathe the eye's surface to keep it moist and wash away dust, debris and microorganisms that could damage the cornea and lead to an eye infection.

A normal tear film consists of three important components:

1. An oily (lipid) component
2. A watery (aqueous) component
3. A mucous-like (mucin) component

 

Each component of the tear film serves a critical purpose. For example, tear lipids help keep the tear film from evaporating too quickly and increase lubrication, while mucin helps anchor and spread the tears across the surface of the eye.

Each tear component is produced by different glands on or near the eye:

1. The oily component is produced by meibomian glands in the eyelids.
2. The watery component is produced by lacrimal glands located behind the outer aspect of the upper eyelids.
3. The mucin component is produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva that covers the white of the eye (sclera).

A problem with any of these sources of tear film components can result in tear instability and dry eyes, and there are different categories of dry eyes, depending on which component is affected.

For example, if the meibomian glands don't produce or secrete enough oil (meibum), the tear film may evaporate too quickly — a condition called "evaporative dry eye." The underlying condition — called meibomian gland dysfunction — is now recognized as a significant factor in many cases of dry eye syndrome.

In other cases, the primary cause of dry eye is a failure of the lacrimal glands to produce enough watery fluid (aqueous) to keep the eyes adequately moistened. This condition is called "aqueous deficiency dry eye."

The specific type of dry eye often will determine the type of treatment your eye doctor recommends to give you relief from your dry eye symptoms.

DRY EYE NEWS

Eyes Are Dry Most Often When Springtime Allergens Are In The Air

May 2015 — Ever notice that your eyes are dryer in April than during other months? This happens to be the same month when springtime allergens are peaking, and a study seems to have found a definitive link between them.

Researchers at the University of Miami reviewed 3.4 million visits to Veterans Affairs eye clinics between 2006 and 2011, when about 607,000 people were diagnosed with dry eye.

Factors Associated With Dry Eye Syndrome

A number of factors can increase your risk of dry eyes. These include:

• Computer use. When working at a computer or using a smartphone or other portable digital device, we tend to blink our eyes less fully and less frequently, which leads to greater tear evaporation and increased risk of dry eye symptoms.
• Contact lens wear. Though it can be difficult to determine the exact extent that contact lens wear contributes to dry eye problems, dry eye discomfort is a primary reason why people discontinue contact lens wear.
• Aging. Dry eye syndrome can occur at any age, but it becomes increasingly more common later in life, especially after age 50.
• Menopause. Post-menopausal women are at greater risk of dry eyes than men of the same age.
• Indoor environment. Air conditioning, ceiling fans and forced air heating systems all can decrease indoor humidity and/or hasten tear evaporation, causing dry eye symptoms.
• Outdoor environment. Arid climates and dry or windy conditions increase dry eye risks.
• Frequent flying. The air in the cabins of airplanes is extremely dry and can lead to dry eye problems, especially among frequent flyers.
• Smoking. In addition to dry eyes, smoking has been linked to serious eye problems, includingmacular degeneration, cataracts and uveitis. (For details, see our infographic about why smoking is bad for your eyes.)
• Health conditions. Certain systemic diseases — such as diabetes, thyroid-associated diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome — contribute to dry eye problems.
• Medications. Many prescription and nonprescription medicines — including antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medications and birth control pills — increase the risk of dry eye symptoms.
• Eyelid problems. Incomplete closure of the eyelids when blinking or sleeping — a condition called lagophthalmos, which can be caused by aging or occur after cosmetic blepharoplasty or other causes — can cause severe dry eyes that can lead to a corneal ulcer if left untreated.

Also, LASIK and other corneal refractive surgery can sometimes cause dry eyes. In most cases, however, dry eye discomfort after LASIK is temporary and resolves within a few weeks of the procedure.

If you have dry eyes prior to LASIK, your eye doctor may recommend a dry eye treatment regimen before your procedure to insure the best possible LASIK results.

DRY EYE NEWS

Smartphone Use Linked To Dry Eye In Schoolchildren

There might be another cost associated with children using smartphones besides a large monthly bill from the phone company: It could be causing kids to develop dry eye disease at an early age.

Researchers in Korea evaluated risk factors for dry eye disease among schoolchildren who used video devices, including smartphones. They examined 288 children and classified them as either having dry eyes or having a normal, moist eye surface (control group). Each child completed a questionnaire concerning the types of video devices they commonly used (computer, smartphone and television) and the amount of time they spent using each device.

Dry Eye Tests

The only way to know for sure if you've got chronic dry eye syndrome is to have your eye doctor perform one or more dry eye tests during an eye exam.

Symptoms alone are poor predictors of the presence and severity of dry eye disease. Symptoms can vary significantly from person to person, and may even be affected by personality type. Some people with only minimal or mild dry eyes may feel their eyes are very bothersome, while others may have significant dry eye problems and not consider their symptoms significant enough to see an eye doctor (or they may not experience dry eye symptoms at all).

Only a careful examination of your eyes by an optometrist or ophthalmologist can reveal the presence and severity of dry eye syndrome and help your eye doctor determine the best type of dry eye treatment to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable and seeing well.

Dry Eye Treatment And Prevention

Thankfully, there are effective treatment options if you suffer from chronic dry eye. In many cases, routine use of artificial tears and minor behavioral modifications (taking frequent breaks during computer use, for example) can significantly reduce dry eye symptoms.

In other cases, your eye doctor might recommend prescription eye medications and in-office procedures to help your body create and secrete more tears and to decrease eye irritation and inflammation.

For an in-depth discussion of dry eye treatments and prevention, see our Dry Eye Treatment page.AAV

DRY EYE RESEARCH

Researchers have discovered a lot of interesting things about dry eyes. Here are just a few:

• Dry eye syndrome is more prevalent in cities with high levels of air pollution, says one study. Cities cited include Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. And study subjects in and around Chicago and New York City were three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with dry eye syndrome than those in less urban areas with relatively little air pollution. Plus, the risk of dry eye syndrome was 13 percent higher in high altitude areas.
• More than 75 percent of women who routinely use a computer at work may suffer from dry eye disease, according to researchers in Japan. Among male workers studied, it was 60.2 percent. Risk factors for dry eye included being over 30 and using a computer more than eight hours per day.
• Reading speed can slow down for dry eye sufferers, another study found. And reading rates decrease as the severity of the dry eye disease increases.