Prevention of Blindness Society...

Help for Dry Eye

Dr. Jacalyn Ely, an area low vision specialist and optometrist, provided an informative lecture on dry eye at Holiday Park at the October Aging Eye Network meeting.

Dry eye syndrome affects 75% of those over the age of 65. Often people suffering from dry eyes will feel a "gritty, sandy" sensation in their eyes. They may even have a para-doxical watering of the eyes. The eyes will often water or tear excessively as a response to the dryness and irritation.

Dry eye is usually due to either a decreased production of "normal" tears or increased evaporation of tears related to poor quality of the tear film. Dr. Ely explained that once a person loses that tear film, they lose a key line of defense. The tear film is the barrier in the immune system. Dry eye can become a serious disease, possibly sight-threatening.

Some causes of dry eye include extended computer use; environmental conditions such as exposure to smoke; too much caffeine; not drinking enough water; fluorescent lights; air pollution; wind; heaters; air conditioning; and dry climates can increase tear evaporation. Possible use of certain medications can also lead to dry eye. Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis as well as various other medical conditions can cause dry eye.

There is no cure for dry eye syndrome, although you can relieve the symptoms and reduce your chances for complications. The first step in treating this condition is to initiate lid hygiene. Warm compresses and lid scrubs are key components. A simple technique is to gently massage the eye lids (eyes closed) with a hand towel soaked with warm water and baby shampoo. By doing this two to three times per day, the bacterial growth can be controlled. Artificial tears are recommended for dry eye. When artificial tears and lid hygiene don’t work, the next step may be to ask your eye doctor about punctal plugs. Punctal plugs are silicon implants, which block the natural drainage of tears from the eye through the punctum. Inserting the punctal plugs is an effective option for treating dry eye syndrome. For more information, contact your eye care professional.