Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is among the most common eye conditions in the United States. In healthy eyes, a thin layer of tears coats the outside surface of the eye, keeping it moist and washing away bits of debris that might fall into the eyes.

Dry eye syndrome occurs when people do not produce enough tears to keep the surface of the eye moist and clean. People with dry eyes often experience dryness, stickiness, stinging or burning of their eyes. The eyes are often red and irritated. The eyes may water excessively in an effort to soothe the irritation, but these reflex tears are usually not adequate to fix the problem. Dry eyes make it difficult to wear contact lenses and can reduce the vision due to break-down of the corneal surface. The tear film normally decreases with age and this is especially common in women after menopause. Certain medications, such as decongestants, tranquilizers, drugs used for high blood pressure and antihistamines can further disrupt the tear layer. Some medical conditions such as arthritis and thyroid disorders also increase the likelihood of dry eyes.

Treatment
Artificial tears are the first line of therapy for dry eye syndrome. These are available without a prescription at your local pharmacy. Restasis® is a prescription medication taken twice a day in a drop that has been proven to treat moderate to severe dry eye syndrome. Restasis® helps by reducing the inflammation and by helping to increase tear production. This allows the surface of the eye to return to a normal state and reduce the symptoms of itchiness, dryness, blurred vision and sensitivity to light.

As dry eye suffers often experience heightened sensitivity in the wind, protective eye wear can also be helpful to improve symptoms. Wrap-around sunglasses can help keep moisture in and the wind and irritants out of the eye. These can be purchased in our Optical Shoppe.