Dry Eye Information

Learn More About Dry Eye

Dry eye is an increasing problem in today’s society. One of the biggest complaints is that the patient’s eyes will “water” all of the time. This is actually a sign that the eyes are dry. The brain will detect that the eye is dry and will send a signal to produce more tears, and then the eye will dry out, and the cycle continues. This is called evaporative dry eye. This dryness can be managed with drops to help stimulate the glands to produce the right kind of tears. Another option is the use of a punctal plug which plugs up the lacrimal ducts to keep the tears longer on the eye. 

With the introduction of computers, cell phones, and tablets, more and more people experience the symptoms of dry eye. The possible reason for this correlation is that when someone is looking at those devices, they are concentrating on them, and when they concentrate, they forget to blink. There are other factors that will contribute to dry eye too. The environment can play havoc on a dry eye patient. Cold, dry weather and windy weather can both dry the eye out. Oftentimes when it is cold, patients have the furnace on or the car heater on, which pumps out dry heat. The symptoms of this type of dry eye can be managed more often than not with simple artificial tears. 

Systemic conditions can result in dry eye. Patients with autoimmune conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, can have inflammatory dry eye. This type of dry eye is a little trickier because the patient is producing inflammatory components that are attacking the front surface of the eye, causing irritation. Optometrists manage this type of dry eye with anti-inflammatory medications in conjunction with artificial tears.

Dry eye sufferers can have glands that are clogged and need to be unclogged. The old way was a warm washcloth to heat the oils that clogged the glands. Today there are better options to treat blocked glands. In-office devices are an option for patients that want periodic treatment. There are also masks that can be purchased for at-home use but need to be used more frequently.   

Dry eye is a condition that is managed, not cured. The optometrist’s job is to figure out which type of dry eye the patient has and formulate a management strategy that fits well with the patient. 

Get your dry eye condition diagnosed accurately at Weber Optiks. To schedule an appointment, please contact us in Effingham, Altamont, or Mattoon.