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Dry Eye Symptoms Include:

• Watery eyes
• The feeling that there’s sand in your eyes
• Eyes that itch and burn
• Vision that becomes blurred after periods of reading, watching TV, or using a computer.
• Red, irritated eyes that produce a mucus discharge

If you are experiencing allergy-like symptoms; irritated, scratchy, burning, excessive watering, or feel as though something is in your eye, you may actually be suffering from dry eye. Dry eye is a condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye.

What Causes Dry Eye?

• Age: As we get older glands in the eyelid produce less oil. Oil keeps tears from evaporating off the eye. Decreased oil production allows tears to evaporate too quickly, leaving the eye too dry.
• Diseases including diabetes, Sjogren’s and Parkinson’s
• Hormonal changes, especially after menopause
• Prescription medications: These include some high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills and pain medications. Over-the-counter medications including some cold and allergy products, motion sickness remedies, and sleep aids can also cause dry eye.
• Hot, dry or windy conditions: High altitude, air-conditioning and smoke can also cause dry eye.
• Reading, using a computer or watching TV
• Contact lenses
• Inflammation: Recent research suggests that dry eye may be caused by inflammation due to an imbalance of “good” fats and “bad” fats

Treatment Options

The most common treatment is the use of artificial teardrops that help make up for the lack of natural lubricating tears. Artificial tear products come in liquid form, longer lasting gelform and long-lasting ointment form, which is most often recommended for nighttime use. Many different brands of artificial tears are available over-the-counter. Some contain preservatives and some do not. Unpreserved tears may be recommended for people whose eyes are sensitive to preservatives. Artificial tears can generally be used as often as needed, from a few times per day to every few minutes. You should follow the regimen your doctor recommends.

Medications such as Restasis, a twice daily drop therapy is making strides in helping patients with dry eyes.

When infection, inflammation of the eyelids or clogged oil glands contribute to dry eye, special lid cleaning techniques or antibiotics may be recommended. It may also help to avoid hot, dry or windy environments or to humidify the air in your home or office.

Punctal occlusion is a medical treatment for dry eye that may enable your eyes to make better and longer use of the few lubricating tears they do produce.