Dry Eye Awareness Month: How to Find Relief for Dry Eyes

Understanding Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome, also called dry eye disease, occurs when the eyes are not properly lubricated by a healthy tear film. Tears do much more than simply keep the eyes wet. They help maintain moisture on the eye’s surface, wash away irritants, and provide nutrients to the cornea. When the eyes do not have enough lubrication, they may become irritated, inflamed, and uncomfortable.

In dry eye disease, the tear film may evaporate too quickly or may not be replenished in the way it should be. This can leave the eyes feeling gritty, scratchy, burning, or irritated. For some people, symptoms are mild and occasional. For others, dry eye can become persistent enough to affect daily tasks such as reading, using digital screens, driving, or wearing contact lenses.

Because dry eye symptoms can overlap with allergies, eye strain, contact lens irritation, and other eye conditions, a comprehensive eye exam is the best way to get a clearer understanding of what may be causing your symptoms.

What Can Cause Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye can develop for a number of reasons. Some causes reduce tear production, some affect tear quality, and others make tears evaporate faster than they should. Identifying the source of the problem can help guide the most effective treatment plan.

• 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.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

Recognizing the symptoms of dry eye is an important first step toward finding relief. Many people experience occasional dryness, but dry eye disease is more likely when symptoms continue, come back often, or begin affecting everyday activities. Symptoms may range from mild irritation to more significant discomfort, and they may change depending on the time of day, environment, or the activities you are doing.

Common 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 sign 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.

Some mild dryness may improve with basic self-care, but ongoing symptoms should be evaluated by an eye doctor. If your symptoms are persistent, worsening, painful, making contact lenses harder to wear, or interfering with daily life, it is a good time to schedule an eye exam at Grene Vision Group.

When to See an Eye Doctor for Dry Eye

You should schedule an eye exam for dry eye if your symptoms continue, become more severe, affect your vision, make contact lenses uncomfortable, or interfere with activities such as reading, working, driving, or using digital screens.

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

How Dry Eye Is Treated

The best treatment for dry eye depends on what is causing your symptoms and how severe they are. Mild dry eye may improve with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter products, while more moderate or severe dry eye may require prescription medication or in-office treatment. Here are some of the options that may help.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Simple changes in your routine can make a meaningful difference for some people with dry eye.

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

Artificial tears are one of the most common treatments for dry eye. These lubricating drops help add moisture and relieve symptoms such as burning, irritation, and scratchiness. Preservative-free formulas are also available and may be especially helpful for people with sensitive eyes.

Some people may also benefit from thicker gel drops or ointments, especially overnight. These products can provide longer-lasting moisture and may be helpful for those 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 some 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.

Warm compresses may also help. Applying warmth to the eyelids can help open blocked meibomian glands, which produce the oily layer of the tear film. That oil helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly, so improving gland function may help improve tear quality.

Prescription Treatments

For moderate to severe dry eye, your eye care provider may recommend prescription treatment.

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

• Xiidra®: Xiidra is another prescription eye drop that targets inflammation associated with dry eye disease and may help improve comfort.

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

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

Advanced Therapy Options

In some cases, more advanced care may be recommended. LipiFlow® is an in-office treatment that uses heat and gentle massage to help treat meibomian gland dysfunction, which is a common cause of dry eye. This treatment is intended to help restore healthier 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 eye’s surface. They can be especially helpful for people with severe dryness or corneal damage because they provide ongoing hydration and protection.