What is dry eye?
Dry eye is the one that has difficulty in maintaining a good lubrication of the eye, usually due to alterations in the Meibomian glands (located in the eyelids, they are responsible for lubricating the eyes). This fact ends up affecting the entire ocular surface: tear film, eyelids, conjunctiva and cornea.
This pathology is mainly suffered by women, and increases with age.
Prognosis of the disease
Dry eye is not usually a serious pathology; normally people who suffer from it only have discomfort and do not lose vision.
Following the specialist’s indications, the pathology disappears in a few days.
Dry eye symptoms
The main symptoms of dry eye are fatigued eyes, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, gritty sensation, burning, redness or stinging. These symptoms are often even more bothersome in environments with wind, smoke, air conditioning, dust or low humidity. Another symptom could be poor tolerance to contact lenses.
Dry eye is an eye that has difficulty maintaining good lubrication of the eye.
Medical tests for dry eye
The patient with dry eye may undergo measurement of visual acuity; slit lamp examination; measurement of tear production rate, tear concentration and tear film breakup time; diagnostic staining of the cornea and tear film.
What are the causes of dry eye?
It is usually caused by hormonal changes that cause the eyes to produce fewer tears, such as menopause and age. Other causes are sun exposure, some anxiolytic drugs, contraceptives, dry environment (e.g. air-conditioned or windy), smoking, heat or previous surgery, among others. Allergic disorders, rheumatic diseases or the use of electronic devices can also be causes.
Can it be prevented?
To avoid dry eye syndrome it is necessary to avoid environments with low humidity and some predisposing drugs. Even so, the best thing to do is to see a dry eye specialist for a good diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment.
Treatments for dry eye
The first treatment option for dry eye is artificial tears, with or without preservatives. They should be applied 2 to 4 times a day for a couple of weeks. Other options are: medications, fish oil, glasses or contact lenses. On the other hand, there are habits that can also help:
- Do not smoke and avoid smoke
- Use a humidifier
- Blink more often
- Clean the area regularly
Which specialist treats it?
Dry eye should be treated by a specialist in Ophthalmology.