What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease causes discomfort, pain and damage to the surface of the eye by disrupting the moisture layer on the surface of the eye.
This can have a significant impact on your quality of life and your vision.
The Tear Film
The tear film is the very thin layer of moisture approximately 100 um thick that covers and protects the entire surface of the eye. It is a complex layer made of:
- Oil (meibum) from the meibomian glands of the eyelid
- Water (aqueous) from the lacrimal gland
- Gel (mucus) from the surface of the eye itself (cornea and conjunctiva).
Any disruption to these layers is a form of dry eye. The most common form of dry eye disease is blepharitis - clogged up oil glands in the eyelids.
What Are The Symptoms Of Dry Eye Disease?
Any irritation can be a form of dry eye, everyone's experience of dry eye is different, and can fluctuate through the day depending on how much heat, wind and airborne particles you’re exposed to.
What Causes Dry Eye Disease?
Lots of things that can cause dry eye disease, including:
- Anatomical factors
- Medications and medical conditions
- Microorganisms
- Diet
- Environmental factors
- Eye surgery
How Can You Treat Dry Eye Disease?
Get advice from your optometrist about a treatment plan for your dry eye disease, especially if you're using eye lubricants more than 4 times per day.
- Good quality eye lubricants (drops, gels and ointments) help relieve your symptoms.
- Some preservatives in eye lubricants can make dry eye disease worse.
- Medications and procedures help resolve the underlying cause for your dry eye disease.
- Anti inflammatory eye drops.
- Antibiotic medications.
- Punctal plugs are a small silicone plug which blocks the water going down the drain (your tear duct)
- IPL or Intense pulse light treatment.
- Rexon Eye
- Scleral bandage contact lens
Dry eye disease is complex and it can be difficult to get effective relief. If you’re suffering with dry eye disease and you aren’t happy with your progress, please come and discuss your dry eye disease with us at Heron Eyecare.
