Dry Eye Awareness Month: Treatment Options for Dry Eyes

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome, also known as dry eye disease, happens when the eyes are not kept properly lubricated by a healthy tear film. Tears play an important role in eye health because they help keep the surface of the eye smooth and moist, wash away irritants, and deliver nutrients to the cornea. When your eyes do not have enough moisture, they can become dry, irritated, inflamed, and uncomfortable.

With dry eye disease, the tear film that covers the eye may evaporate too quickly or may not be replenished the way it should be. This imbalance can leave the surface of the eye feeling gritty, scratchy, burning, or irritated. For some people, symptoms are mild and occasional. For others, dry eye can become more persistent and interfere with tasks such as reading, driving, using a computer, or wearing contact lenses.

Because dry eye symptoms can overlap with allergies, digital eye strain, contact lens irritation, and other eye concerns, a comprehensive eye exam is the best way to understand what may be causing your symptoms.

What Can Cause Dry Eye?

Dry eye can happen for several different reasons. Some causes reduce tear production, while others affect tear quality or increase the rate of tear evaporation. Understanding the underlying cause can help determine which treatment options may be most helpful.

• Aging: As we age, tear production naturally decreases, making dry eye more common in individuals over 50.

• Environmental Factors: Dry climates, air conditioning, smoke, wind, and pollutants can all contribute to dry eye by increasing tear evaporation.

• Health Conditions: Certain conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the quality of tears or the glands responsible for producing them.

• Medications: Some medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and beta-blockers, can reduce tear production as a side effect, making dry eye symptoms more prominent.

• Contact Lens Wear: Long-term or improper use of contact lenses can contribute to dry eyes, as the lenses can absorb moisture from the eye’s surface and disrupt tear distribution.

• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal shifts like those experienced during pregnancy, menopause, or because of certain birth control methods can affect tear production and lead to dry eye.

• Screen Time: Prolonged exposure to digital screens, whether for work, entertainment, or study, often leads to reduced blinking, contributing to dry eye symptoms.

Dry Eye Symptoms to Watch For

Recognizing the symptoms of dry eye is an important first step in getting relief. Many people experience mild dryness from time to time, but dry eye disease is more likely when symptoms continue, return often, or begin interfering with daily life. Symptoms may range from mild irritation to more significant discomfort, and they can fluctuate depending on the time of day, your environment, and what activities you are doing.

Common signs and symptoms of dry eye include:

• Gritty or scratchy sensation

• Burning or stinging

• Redness

• Blurred vision

• Excessive tearing

• Light sensitivity

• Eye fatigue

Watery eyes can also be a symptom of dry eye. When the eyes become irritated, they may produce extra tears, but those tears may not have the right balance to keep the eye surface comfortable.

While mild dryness may sometimes improve with simple remedies, persistent symptoms should be evaluated by an eye doctor. If dryness is ongoing, getting worse, causing pain, making contact lenses uncomfortable, or affecting daily activities, it is a good time to schedule an eye exam at EyeCare Associates.

Should You See an Eye Doctor for Dry Eye?

You should schedule an eye exam for dry eye if your symptoms continue, worsen over time, affect your vision, make contact lenses harder to wear, or interfere with daily activities such as reading, driving, working, or using digital screens.

You should also seek care if you have significant redness, eye pain, light sensitivity, discharge, sudden changes in vision, or symptoms that do not improve with over-the-counter lubricating drops. An eye doctor can examine your tear quality, tear quantity, eyelids, and eye surface to help identify the cause and recommend the right treatment plan.

Dry Eye Treatment Options

The right dry eye treatment depends on what is causing your symptoms and how severe they are. Mild cases may improve with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter products, while moderate to severe dry eye may require prescription treatment or in-office care. Here are some common treatment options that may help manage dry eye symptoms.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Making a few simple changes to your daily routine can significantly reduce dry eye symptoms.

1. Use a Humidifier: Adding moisture to the air in your home or office can prevent tear evaporation and reduce dryness, especially in dry or air-conditioned environments.

2. Practice the 20-20-20 Rule: If you spend a lot of time in front of screens, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus on something 20 feet away. This encourages natural blinking and reduces eye strain.

3. Increase Your Water Intake: Staying hydrated helps maintain the health of your tear glands, ensuring that your eyes are adequately lubricated.

4. Avoid Wind and Direct Sunlight: Wearing sunglasses or protective eyewear can help shield your eyes from harsh winds and UV rays, both of which can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.

5. Take Breaks: When reading, working on a computer, or engaging in other visually demanding activities, take regular breaks to rest your eyes and reduce the risk of dryness and irritation.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops, often called artificial tears, are one of the most common treatments for dry eye. They help add moisture and relieve symptoms such as burning, scratchiness, and irritation. Preservative-free formulas are also available for people with sensitive eyes.

Some people may also benefit from thicker gels or ointments, especially at night. These products can provide longer-lasting relief and may be particularly helpful for people who wake up with dry eyes in the morning.

If you need artificial tears several times a day, preservative-free drops may be a better choice because certain preservatives can become irritating with frequent use. It is also best to avoid using redness-relief drops as your main dry eye treatment unless your eye doctor recommends them, since they may not address the underlying cause of dryness.

Warm compresses may also help. Applying a warm compress to the eyes can help open blocked meibomian glands, which produce the oily part of your tears. That oil layer helps reduce tear evaporation, so improving gland function may improve tear quality and comfort.

Prescription Treatments

If dry eye is moderate to severe, your eye care provider may recommend stronger treatment options.

• Restasis®: Restasis is a prescription eye drop that helps reduce inflammation and increase tear production. It may be recommended for chronic dry eye related to inflammation.

• Xiidra®: Xiidra is another prescription eye drop used to target inflammation associated with dry eye disease and improve overall eye comfort.

• Punctal Plugs: These small devices are placed in the tear ducts to slow tear drainage and help keep more moisture on the eye’s surface. They can be especially helpful for people who have trouble maintaining enough tears.

Your eye doctor may also discuss other prescription or in-office treatments depending on the cause and severity of your symptoms. Since dry eye can have more than one cause, treatment may involve a combination of drops, lid care, lifestyle changes, and procedures.

Advanced Therapies

In some cases, more advanced treatment may be recommended. LipiFlow® is an in-office treatment that uses heat and gentle massage to treat meibomian gland dysfunction, which is a common cause of dry eye. This treatment is designed to help restore normal oil flow and improve tear quality.

For more severe dry eye, scleral lenses may also be an option. These large gas-permeable lenses create a moisture reservoir over the surface of the eye. They can be especially beneficial for people with severe dryness or corneal damage because they provide ongoing hydration and protection.