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| Dry Eyes |
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What Are Dry Eyes?
Do your eyes sting, burn, or feel scratchy? To be comfortable, your eyes need to be lubricated, or bathed, with tears. Normally, there is always a “film” of tears on the surface of your eyes. But if your eyes don’t produce enough tears, the surface gets irritated. This is known as “dry eyes.”
Not Enough Lubricating Tears. When you cry, your eyes make reflex tears. Each time you blink, another kind of tears, called lubricating tears, spread over the surface of your eyes. These tears keep the eyes moist and comfortable. You aren’t aware of these tears because they stay on the surface of the eyes. But without them, your eyes get dry. Then they burn or sting and feel scratchy. They may also water. This doesn’t relieve the dryness, however, because the eyes water with reflex tears, not lubricating tears.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Many things can cause your eyes to become dry. These include:
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| Aging |
| Heaters and air conditioners |
| Wind, smoke, or dry weather |
| Allergies such as hay fever |
| Medications |
| Eyelid problems, injuries to the eye, or diseases like rheumatoid arthritis |
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How Lubricating Tears Flow:
Lubricating tears flow from glands in the upper eyelid over the surface of the eye. From the eye, the tears drain into canals that lead to the nose.
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| Glands in the eyelid produce lubricating tears to keep the eye moist. |
| Glands above the eyelid produce reflex tears. |
| Drainage canals allow tears to flow out of the eye into passages in the nose. |
| The puncta act like drains, connecting the upper and lower eyelids to the drainage canals. |
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How Are Dry Eyes Diagnosed?
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Taking Your Health History:
Be sure to tell your doctor about:
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| Any medical conditions you have. Some can cause the tear glands to stop producing enough tears. |
| Any medications you use, such as eyedrops or antihistamines. |
| Any contact lenses you wear. |
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Examining Your Eyes:
Your eye doctor looks at your eyes through a special microscope called a slit lamp. This allows him or her to examine the tear film. Your eye doctor may also use eyedrops with dye to help show any dry spots.
Testing Your Tear Production: Your eye doctor also measures the amount of tears your eyes produce. First, your eyes may be numbed with anesthetic drops. Then, your doctor folds filter paper over your lower lids. You’re asked to sit with your eyes closed for about 5 minutes. The paper absorbs the tear film. The amount of fluid in the paper tells your eye doctor the amount of tears your eyes produce.
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How Are Dry Eyes Treated?
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Artificial tears are the most common treatment for dry eyes. If they don’t relieve your symptoms, your eye doctor may put in plugs or do surgery to stop the draining and increase the tear film.
Artificial Tears:
Artificial tears, or lubricating eyedrops, replace your natural lubricating tears. You can buy most lubricating eyedrops without a prescription. And you can use them as often as needed. Lubricating eyedrops are not the same as eyedrops to relieve redness or itching. Check with a pharmacist to be sure you buy the right drops. *Note: Most lubricating eyedrops contain preservatives to make them last longer. If your eyes are sensitive to the drops, you may want to buy lubricating eyedrops made without preservatives. Your eye doctor may also suggest using a lubricating eye ointment at night.
Plugs:
Closing the puncta with plugs can help keep the tear film on your eye. The plug acts like a stopper in a sink. It allows only a small amount of tears to drain out of your eye. Your eye doctor may first try temporary plugs that dissolve in a few days. If these help, he or she may then put in long-term plugs. Your eyes will be numbered with drops when the plugs are inserted, so you should feel no pain. And you shouldn’t feel the plugs once they’re in.
Surgery: If artificial tears or plugs don’t relieve your dry eyes, your doctor may do minor outpatient surgery to narrow or block the openings to the drainage canals. If your dry eyes are caused by eyelid problems, your eye doctor may recommend other kinds of surgery.
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Tips For Comfort:
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| Use a humidifier to make the air moist inside heated rooms. |
| Wear wraparound glasses when you’re outside. |
| Avoid wearing contact lenses or eye makeup. |
| Avoid smoke, wind, hair dryers, air conditioners, and aerosols. |
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This information is provided by the StayWell Company, San Bruno, CA
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