What are dry eyes?
The tears normally moisturise and nourish the front surface of the eyes. If the tears are abnormal or cannot cover all of the surface of the eye, the surface can become damaged leading to dry eyes. Normal tears are also important for clear vision, so dry eyes can cause blurring. If the eyes are very dry, this can increase the risk of infection and visual loss.
What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
There are many symptoms including:
- redness
- soreness
- burning
- grittiness
- watering especially in the wind
- mattering of the eyelashes especially in the morning
- sensitivity to light
- blurry vision especially when focussing
What causes dry eyes?
Dry eyes is very common. Mr Lin will assess your eyes to determine the cause. The main causes are:
- poor tear quality – as we age we produce lower quality tears that evaporate more easily
- blepharitis – blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids that reduces tear quality, and is very common
- medications – many medications reduce tear production
- incomplete blink – if the eyelids do not fully cover the eyes on blinking, the tears are not fully spread
- irregular eye surface – if the surface of the eyes is not smooth, the tears will not be spread as well
- excess screen time – when we focus on a screen or when we read we blink less often
- contact lens use
What is the treatment for dry eyes?
The underlying cause should be addressed, however it is important to note there is often no ‘cure’ for dry eye and the aim of treatment is to keep the eyes healthy and comfortable. The symptoms of dry eye can be relieved with an escalating ladder of treatment as advised by Mr Lin including:
- Eyelid scrubs to reduce blepharitis
- Warm compresses to improve the quality of tears
- Artificial tears, gels, and ointments to supplement the tears
- Plugs to block the tear drainage system
- Lipiflow/TearCare/Intense Pulsed Light therapy (IPL) to improve the quality of tears
- Medicated eye drops/antibiotic tablets
Useful websites