Do your eyes feel itchy, red, and dry at the end of the day? It’s possible that you have dry eyes.
In the age range of 21 to 40 years, dry eye illness affects 32% of the urban Indian population. By 2030, it’s predicted that this number would rise to 45%.
A chronic disease known as dry eye can develop if there is not enough tear production or if the tears evaporate too rapidly. It is a progressive illness that, if ignored, can cause major visual issues as well as consequences like eye infections and surface damage to the eyes.
Aashirwad Eye Hospital provides specialised and thorough evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for dry eyes. We are aware that every eye is unique, thus we take extra effort to develop a treatment strategy that is unique to each patient. We provide the finest individualised therapy for dry eye disease thanks to our cutting-edge equipment and years of experience.
“Dry eyes“ is one of the most prevalent symptoms in those who use digital gadgets extensively.
According to research, dry eyes are directly related to outward symptoms of computer vision syndrome such irritated/burning eyes, tears and dryness, weary eyes, and eye pain. Dry eyes are a result of decreased blinking and higher tear evaporation rates that are both correlated with the usage of digital gadgets. Humans automatically blink 16 to 18 times every minute on average. When we are paying attention to a computer or smartphone, our blink rate cuts in half. Tears are spread across the surface of the eye by blinking, which lubricates and nourishes the eyes and keeps them comfortable and healthy. The tears evaporate and the eye feels dry and itchy when the blink rate drops by 50%. Spending prolonged periods of time looking at a digital screen might exacerbate the symptoms of any eye conditions you may already be experiencing, such as blepharitis or dry eye.
CAUSES OF DRY EYE
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- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), in which the glands are unable to produce enough oil or are blocked, is one of the main causes of dry eyes. These glands in the eyelids produce oily secretions that aid in reducing the rate at which the tear film evaporates.
- It happens naturally as we age, as a side effect of dry, dusty, or windy environments, or as a result of drugs. Your eyes may get dry from air conditioning or a dry heating system in small areas.
- Lack of blinking is another factor, which can happen when someone spends all day gazing at a computer or TV screen.
- Systemic illnesses such rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome can also cause dry eyes .
- Another factor is using contacts for an extended period of time; in fact, dry eyes are the most prevalent complaint among long-term contact lens users. Recent studies have shown that dry eyes and contact lens usage can be a vicious cycle. It appears that the reason of dry eyes, which makes contact lenses unpleasant, is the rubbing of the lenses against the conjunctiva.
- Inadequate tear production, eyelid illness, and inadequate eyelid closure are some other factors.
Dry Eye Symptom Checker
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- Foreign-body sensation
- Gritty Sensation
- Burning
- Watery eyes or excessive tearing
- Itching
- Redness
- Pain
- Sensitivity to light
Diagnostic Tests to assess your dry eye
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- Schirmer tear test: To measure the adequate tear production in your eyes
- Tear breakup time: To assess the time taken for the tear film to evaporate
- Corneal fluorescein staining: To evaluate the health of the corneal surface
- Symptom questionnaires: A simple form will help your Ophthalmologist in determining the severity of your disease
- Meibography: To analyse the function of the meibomian glands
- Lipid layer thickness: To assess the quality ad quantity of the lipids in the tear films
- Tear analysis: To assess the inflammatory markers in the tear film
- IDRA/SBM: Analyses the individual components of the tear film (Lipid, Aqueous & Mucin) and helps in the detailed structural research of the tear components.
You can download the dry eye questionnaire, to help understand your symptoms.
DOWNLOAD LINK –
Dry Eye Consultation – Patient Process Flow
Treatment of Dry Eye
Untreated dry eye is a progressive condition that can cause major visual issues, infections in the eyes, and damage to the surface of the eyes. You may prevent Dry Eye problems by avoiding the scenarios that are most likely to result in the symptoms. It’s crucial to get the right eye assessment and care if you spend a lot of time using a computer at work, home, school, or anyplace else and experience dry eye irritation.
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- Frequent application of Regular artificial tear drops
- Blink more often while working on the computer or other electronic devices for long hours
- Warm compresses with a face cloth or heat bag
- Eyelid hygiene
- Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in your daily diet
- Use a Humidifier in the room
- Minimize exposure to heaters/air-conditioners
- Topical steroids in severe cases of dry eye
- Intense pulsed light (IPL): Boosts the meibomian gland function and helps to reduce inflammation
- Surgery: To preserve moisture on the eye in severe instances of dry eye, punctal plugs are used to prevent tears from evaporating too fast. To prevent tears from evaporating fast from the eyes, temporary or permanent silicone plugs can be placed in the lacrimal (tear) ducts found in the eyelids. The same can be achieved by punctal cautary , where the punctal openings are closed with a heat cautary to keep them closed.
DRY EYE FAQs
You can get dry eyes at any age, but as you become older, your chances of getting it increase. Individuals who use contact lenses, spend a lot of time in front of screens, live in dry, windy locations, or all of these things are more likely to get dry eye. Women are more likely to experience dry eye, and post-menopausal women are more likely to experience it.
By measuring the amount of tears produced with each blink, dry eye is diagnosed. How rapidly the tears vanish may be measured through more thorough testing. In some complex situations, infrared imaging of the oil glands within your eyelids is carried out.
Certainly, reading, watching TV, or using a computer while concentrating demands less blinking from the eyelids, which causes the tear film to evaporate quickly and cause dryness in the eyes. Artificial tears can be used at such time to assist the eyes relax and get rid of their symptoms.
There are several different treatments that may be used to address dry eye condition. The therapy may last for a longer period of time, therefore it is important that you adhere to it strictly and comprehend why it must be continued even if your symptoms subside.