What is Dry Eye and what are its symptoms and treatments?

How do I know I have a dry eye?

If your eyes sting and burn, look red, or feel gritty — as if some sand is stuck in them — you may have dry eye. This condition can happen when the tiny glands in and around your eyelids don’t make enough tears to keep your peepers healthy and vision clear.

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Dry eyes causes ?

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is thought to be the leading cause of dry eye disease.

Other causes of dry eye include:

Medicines. Dry eye can be a side effect of some medicines that treat conditions like colds and allergies, depression, and high blood pressure.
Health problems. Some health problems — including diabetes, thyroid problems, and autoimmune disorders like lupus or Sjögren syndrome — can cause dry eye.

Cigarette smoking and alcohol
Sex: Women are more likely to have dry eyes than men,especially if they use birth control pills or have gone through the hormonal changes of pregnancy or menopause.
Laser eye surgery. After some types of laser surgery, your eyes may produce fewer tears. Ask your eye doctor how long this side effect usually lasts, and let them know if you have any questions or concerns.

Windy, smoky, or dry environments. Spending time in these types of places can cause your tears to dry up faster and lead to dry eye.
Looking at screens for long periods of time. Infrequent blinking due to staring at computer screens or electronic devices for long periods of time
Long term use of contact lens

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the tears are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye is a disorder in which the lacrimal glands fail to produce enough of the watery component of tears to maintain a healthy eyesurface.

What are the types of Dry Eye?

Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye is a disorder in which the lacrirnal glands fail to produce enough Of the watery component Of tears to maintain a healthy eye surface. Evaporative dry eye may result from inflammation of the meibomian glands, also located in the eyelids. These glands make the lipid or oily part of tears that slows evaporation and keeps the tears stable..

What is the best natural remedy for dry eyes?

Stay hydrated. For some people, simply drinking enough fluids throughout the day can help reduce dry eye symptoms by keeping mucous membranes in the eyes moist.

Blink more frequently. Blinking frequently and taking breaks when performing activities requiring prolonged periods of visual attention, such as computer work, may help.
Position your monitor. If you work at a desktop computer, you may benefit from lowering your computer monitor so your gaze is slightly downwards. Your eyes don’t have to open as wide, which may lessen the dryness.
Avoid dry or blowing air. Avoid dry conditions. Use a humidifier to increase the moisture of dry, indoor air. Keep air from fans, heaters, or air conditioners and smoke from blowing into your eyes. Wear sunglasses when you’re outdoors.

Avoid sleep masks that are flat. These can rub on the eye itself and exacerbate dry eye and eye pain. Using vaulted swim goggles is also recommended.

Dry Eye treatment

Artificial tears eye drops
For mild cases of dry eyes caused by computer use, reading, schoolwork and other situational causes, the best dry eye treatment may simply be frequent use of artificial tears or other lubricating eye drops.
Restasis
Instead of OTC artificial tears (or in addition to them), your eye doctor might recommend daily use of a prescription eye drop called Restasis (Allergan) for your dry eye treatment.

3. Xiidra
Xiidra (ZYE-druh) is another prescription eye drop for dry eye treatment.Xiidra (Shire), like Restasis, is aimed at reducing inflammation associated with the signs and symptoms of dry eyes.
4. Steroid eye drops

Steroid eye drops: Over the past several years, inflammation has been recognized as a significant cause of dry eyes. Inflammation frequently causes the redness and burning associated with dry eye disease.
Lacrisert
Lacrisert (Bausch + Lomb) is a sterile, slow-release lubricant that is placed under the lower eyelid where the conjunctiva of the inside of the eyelid meets the conjunctiva of the eyeball.
Punctal plugs
Punctal plugs sometimes are used in dry eye treatment to help tears remain on the surface of the eye longer.

Meibomian gland expression
A very significant percentage of dry eye cases are caused by inadequate oil (meibum) being secreted from meibomian glands located along the margin of the eyelids.
Warm compresses
An alternative (and potentially more comfortable) way to help open clogged meibomian glands to treat dry eyes is to simply apply warm compresses to the closed eyelids to soften the hardened meibum.
LipiFlow
The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System (TearScience) is an automated, in-office dry eye treatment that combines the best features of warm compress therapy and meibomian gland expression.

Intense pulsed light
Intense pulsed light (IPL) has long been used to treat rosacea on the skin. Rosacea on the skin and eyelid often occur together.
Nutritional supplements
Doctors sometimes recommend nutritional supplements as part of a holistic dry eye treatment plan.

Dry eye treatment at home

Home remedies for dry eyes
If you have mild dry eye symptoms, there are several things you can try to get relief before going to the doctor:

Blink more often.
Take frequent breaks during computer use. A good rule of thumb here is to look away from your screen at least every 20 minutes and look at something that is at least 20 feet from your eyes for at least 20 seconds. Eye doctors call this the “20-20-20 rule,” and abiding by it can help relieve dry eyes and computer eye strain.
Meibomian gland expression
A very significant percentage of dry eye cases are caused by inadequate oil (meibum) being secreted from meibomian glands located along the margin of the eyelids.

Wear quality sunglasses. When outdoors in daylight hours, always wear sunglasses that block 100% of the sun’s UV rays.
Thoroughly remove eye makeup. Eyeliner and other eye makeup can clog the openings of the glands at the base of the eyelashes, leading to meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. At the end of the day, be diligent about removing all makeup from your eyelids and eyelashes.
Clean your eyelids. When washing your face before bedtime, gently wash your eyelids to remove bacteria that can cause blepharitis and meibomian gland problems that lead to dry eye symptoms.

Use a humidifier. Dry air inside your home, particularly in dry climates, or in cold climates in winter, can contribute to making your eyes dry. Consider adding a humidifier to increase the relative humidity inside your home.

Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome, also called dry eye disease (DED), is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide and a primary reason for visits to the eye doctor.

In a review published in the Journal of Global Health, researchers reported that studies have shown the prevalence of dry eyes ranges from 5 percent to as high as 50 percent in different populations across the world. (The researchers felt the large variation may be due to disparities in diagnostic criteria of different studies, unique characteristics of the investigated populations and other factors.)

Dry eye tests and diagnosis

The only way to know for sure if you’ve got chronic dry eye syndrome is to have your eye doctor perform one or more dry eye tests, such as the Schirmer’s test, during an eye exam.