What is Dry Eye Disease?

What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye disease (DED) is a commonly found  condition affecting over 16 million American adults today. It occurs when your eyes are unable to stay moist due to inadequate or  insufficient tear production. Tears provide the moisture and nutrients that our eyes  need to stay healthy and comfortable. When tear production is compromised in quality and quantity it can lead to some of  undesirable symptoms such as:

• Burning pain

• Eye redness

• Blurry vision

• Mucus-like residue in eyes

• Eye fatigue

• Watery eyes

Did you know?

** Dry eye is common — nearly 16 million Americans have dry eye.

**Dry eye can happen if you spend a lot of time looking at your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

**If severe dry eye isn’t treated, it can sometimes damage your cornea, the clear outer layer at the front of your eye.

Causes of Dry Eyes

Steady sessions on digital screens can exaggerate the symptoms for someone with chronic dry eye. Although screen time isn’t always the root cause of dry eye disease, long periods on devices certainly don’t help. The initial cause of dry eye can include the following:

• Blepharitis (swollen eyelids)

• Refractive eye surgery (LASIK)

• Smoky, windy, or very dry climates

• Certain medications, including those for allergies, those for heart problems, antidepressants, and diuretics

• Existing diseases, like thyroid disease and lupus

• Hormonal changes in women following menopause

• Inadequate Diet.

We strongly recommend that you address the root cause of your dry eyes because it is very critical  in  finding the right  solution. Our optometrists examine your eyes and review your medical history to help isolate the reasons you experience due to dry eye regularly. If you or someone you know is suffering then Book a Dry Eye Exam today and take the first step towards clear, comfortable vision.

Can Screen Time Worsen Evaporative Dry Eye Disease?

One of the reasons your eyes can feel dry is that tears are evaporating too quickly. This is due to an inadequate lipid layer of the tears. The lipid layer acts as an oily barrier to natural evaporation. When glands in your eyelids fail to produce this lipid layer it is known as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and leads to evaporative dry eye (EDE).

Studies suggest that prolonged computer use and exposure to digital screens can impact how quickly our tears evaporate. When tears are evaporating too quickly our eyes start to feel dry. The main reason for increased evaporation is that we blink 66% less when using a computer compared to other daily activities. But you can help your eyes simply by blinking more when staring at digital screens.

Tips to Manage Screen-Related Dry Eye

Being aware that too much screen time increases the symptoms of dry eye disease will help you help yourself. You can limit the consequences of CVS with some of the following techniques. If your dry eyes get worse or the symptoms never go away, it’s best to contact us for a Dry Eye Exam.

Blink Often

Most people blink less when they are using a computer. The average person blinks 15-20 times a minute during everyday activities. This can drop down to only 5 times per minute when you are focusing on a digital screen. So remember to blink every few seconds to help prevent your eyes from drying out!

Stay Hydrated

Keeping yourself hydrated is always a good idea, especially if you suffer from dry eyes. It’s recommended that you drink anywhere between 2-4 litres of water every day, depending on your size and weight. A lack of water can increase dry eye discomfort, so stay hydrated while you’re on the computer. 

The 20-20-20 Rule

Here’s a simple rule that will help your eyes recover while you’re working on a digital screen. Every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break, and focus on something 20 feet away. This easy-to-do technique will give your eyes some quick relief from staring at screens right in front of you.

Improve Your Air Quality

help reduce dry eye symptoms. Remember that air conditioners lower moisture .Having the right air environment while you work air. Try turning down the AC when you expect a lot of screen time. If your dry eyes are constant when using the laptop, think about investing in a humidifier.

Remove Your Contacts

Your dry eyes may be exaggerated by wearing contact lenses during long sessions in front of digital screens. Wearing contacts creates a barrier that makes it harder for oxygen to reach the eye’s surface. Since we generally blink less in front of a screen, contact use can leave your eyes feeling dry. Consider switching to glasses or changing the type of Contacts when screen time is going into overtime. 

It’s normal for your eyes to feel dry after long periods of staring at your computer or cell phone. Dry eyes can be caused by several things, but we often feel increased discomfort after serious sessions on our digital devices. Recognizing digital eye strain as a catalyst for dry eyes can help you try to prevent it from happening. 

Too much screen time can expose inadequate tear production in your eyes. Thinking that dry eyes will “just go away” is a foolish choice. Instead, visit us for a Dry Eye Exam. Uncovering the root cause of your dry eyes is the fastest way to use all your screens comfortably and pain-free. 

 What’s the treatment for dry eye?

Treatment for dry eye usually depends on what’s causing your symptoms. There are a few different types of treatment that can ease your symptoms and help keep your eyes healthy.

Over-the-counter eye drops. The most common treatment for mild dry eye is a type of eye drops called artificial tears. You can get these eye drops without a prescription. There are also over-the-counter moisturizing gels and ointments that may help your eyes feel better. All Teardrops are not created the same. So have your doctor recommend the best for your specific condition.

Prescription medicines. If your dry eye is more serious, your eye doctor may give you a prescription for medicines called cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra). These medicines are both types of eye drops that can help your eyes make more tears.

Lifestyle changes. If something in your life or your environment is causing your dry eye, or making it worse, your doctor may suggest changes to help protect your eyes.

For example, if a medicine you take for another health condition is causing dry eye, your doctor may also suggest that you try a different medicine.

Your eyes may also feel better if you:

• Try to avoid smoke, wind, and air conditioning

• Use a humidifier to keep the air in your home from getting too dry

• Limit screen time and take breaks from staring at screens

• Wear wraparound sunglasses when you're outside

• Drink plenty of water — try for 8 to 10 glasses every day

• Get enough sleep — about 7 to 8 hours a night

Tear duct plugs. If tears are draining too quickly from your eyes, your doctor may suggest putting special plugs (called punctal plugs) in your tear ducts (small holes in the inner corners of your eyes). These plugs can help keep your tears in your eyes.

Surgery. In some cases, dry eye can happen because your lower eyelids are too loose, causing tears to drain too quickly out of your eye. If this is the cause of your dry eye, your eye doctor may suggest surgery to fix your eyelids and help your tears stay on your eyes. This treatment is not very common.

Talk over your options with your doctor. If another health condition is causing your dry eye, treating that condition may improve your dry eye symptoms. Even if you have dry eye, there are lots of things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy. Remember these tips:

• Follow your doctor's instructions for using your eye drops (over-the-counter or prescription)

• Tell your doctor if dry eye is getting in the way of everyday activities

• Consider lifestyle changes.

• Discuss new treatment options including changing the  type of Contact lenses you currently wear.