What is a dry eye syndrome?

More than 5 million Americans aged 50 and older suffer from dry eye syndrome, according to the National Eye Institute. Dry eyes are a chronic lack of lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. An adequate and consistent layer of tears on the surface of the eye is essential to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable, and seeing well. 

Tears bathe the eye’s surface to keep it moist and wash away dust, debris and microorganisms that could damage the cornea and lead to an eye infection.

A normal tear film consists of three important components:

  1. An oily (lipid) component produced by meibomian glands in the eyelids

  2. A watery (aqueous) component produced by lacrimal glands located behind the outer aspect of the upper eyelids.

  3. A mucous-like (mucin) component produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva that covers the white of the eye (sclera).

Each component of the tear film serves a critical purpose. For example, tear lipids help keep the tear film from evaporating too quickly and increase lubrication. Mucin helps anchor and spread the tears across the surface of the eye.

Dry eyes can become red and irritated, causing a feeling of scratchiness.

The results of dry eyes range from subtle but constant eye irritation to significant inflammation. It may even lead to scarring of the front surface of the eye.

 

dry eye treatment

Dry eye disease or simply “dry eye,” alternative medical terms used to describe dry eyes include:

  • Keratitis sicca. Generally used to describe dryness and inflammation of the cornea.

  • Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Used to describe dry eye that affects both the cornea and the conjunctiva.

  • Dysfunctional tear syndrome. Used to emphasize that poor quality of tears can be just as important as low quantity.

Symptoms of Dry Eye.

  • You feel like your eyes are stinging and burning.
  • Blurred vision, especially when reading
  • There is a scratchy or gritty feeling like something is in your eye.
  • There are strings of mucus in or around your eyes.
  • Your eyes are red or irritated. This is especially true when you are in the wind or near cigarette smoke.
  • It is painful to wear contact lenses.
  • You have lots of tears in your eyes.

Causes of Dry Eye

  • Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, thyroid disease, and lupus
  • Blepharitis (when eyelids are swollen or red)
  • Entropion (when eyelids turn in); ectropion (eyelids turn outward)
  • Being in smoke, wind or a very dry climate
  • Looking at a computer screen for a long time, reading and other activities that reduce blinking
  • Using contact lenses for a long time
  • Having refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK
  • Taking certain medicines, such as:
    • Diuretics (water pills) for high blood pressure
    • Beta-blockers, for heart problems or high blood pressure
    • Allergy and cold medicines (antihistamines)
    • Sleeping pills
    • Anxiety and antidepressant medicines
    • Heartburn medicines



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Risk factors

Dry eye syndrome is more common in people age 50 and older. It’s estimated that there are 5 million AmericansTrusted Source in this age group with the condition.

The majority of them are women, but the condition does occur in men.

Women who are pregnant, on hormone replacement therapy, or going through menopause are more at risk. The following underlying conditions can also increase your risk:

  • chronic allergies
  • thyroid disease or other conditions that push the eyes forward
  • lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune system disorders
  • exposure keratitis, which occurs from sleeping with your eyes partially open
  • vitamin A deficiency, which is unlikely if you get sufficient nutrition

Some believe that too much exposure to the blue light that’s emitted from computer screens can contribute to dry eye syndrome.

“Humans evolved outside in an enormous source of blue light [from the sun],” says Kugler. “So to suggest that computer screens are causing more blue light issues than sunlight doesn’t make much intuitive sense.”

It is known, however, that staring at computer screens for many hours at a time suppresses our blink reflex, which leads to more dry eyes, he says.

It’s a good idea to take breaks when using a computer. Some people feel more comfortable wearing blue light filtering glasses when using computers, and that won’t cause any harm, he says.