The normal moisture level on the front of the eye, called a tear film, is essential to good vision and healthy eyes. The tear film is a complex layering of oil, mucous, water, proteins, and electrolytes. If your eyes have a thin tear film, or if the tears produced are not balanced, dry eye syndrome may be the reason.

Dry eyes interfere with daily activities at home, when driving, reading, and at work. Studies show that approximately 3.2 million women and 800,000 men in the United States suffer from dry eyes. Patients most likely to have dry eyes are peri- and post-menopausal women, contact lens wearers, and patients with autoimmune or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, rocacea, lupus, or Sjogrens’s syndrome (a triad of dry eyes, dry mouth, and lupus or rheumatoid arthritis).

Some of the symptoms of dry eye syndrome include constant irritation, dryness, scratchy or gritty feeling (like having something in your eyes), burning, stinging, or changeable vision, especially after blinking. Your eye may even excessively water if the eye’s surface nerve senses too little moisture and stimulates the lacrimal gland to make more water. Unfortunately, the excess usually just runs right down your cheek, that is if the eyes don’t have the right balance of water, mucous, and oil. All three of these components are needed to have a healthy, lush and full pre-corneal tear film.

Decreased tear production, tear evaporation, allergies, smoking, computer use and contact lens wear have all been identified as contributing to dry eye syndrome. Other causes of dry eye include medications such as anticholinergics, antihistamines, antidepressants, antihypertensives, hormones, cardiac antiarrythmics, Parkinson’s disease agents, and chemical preservatives found in many eye drops.

People who frequently travel by air are reminded just how critical humidity affects ocular comfort. The humidity in a pressured airplane cabin is likely as low as 10% and studies have shown that this level of humidity sustained for as little as 1 to 3 hours can be associated with significant mucosal irritation (eyes, skin, and upper airways).

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows liquid solution bottles that are “carried on” of less than 3 ounces (~88.7 mL). So, if you are a “frequent flyer”, remember to carry on and use ocular lubricants. If you wear contact lenses, try wearing your glasses when in the airplane, and wait until you land to put in your contact lenses.

The ideal dry eye treatment is one that keeps your eyes healthy, comfortable, and maintains good vision. Traditionally, the treatment of dry eye syndrome has been the frequent use of artificial tears drops, gels, or ointments to rewet the surface of the eye and provide symptomatic relief. Artificial tears are great if you have mild, occasional dry eyes. They replenish the moisture lost to tear evaporation, rinse away debris and pollens, and generally make the eyes feel better.

But because artificial tear preparations do not restore the eye’s ability to produce normal quality and quantity of tears, people with moderate to severe dry eye often benefit from additional treatment with prescription eye drop medications, such as Restasis by Allergan.

Another available treatment uses punctal plugs (small plastic inserts) to prevent your tears from being blinked away into the eye’s natural drainage system. Ask your optmetrist about which treatment is best for your eyes.