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.

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.

Dry Eye Symptoms that Can Be Treated

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.

Most common causes of dry eye:

• Contact lenses
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Windy, smoky or dry environments
• Blepharitis
• Menopause
• Pharmaceutical drugs
• Smoking
• Age
• Disease
• Indoor heating or air conditioning
• Previous eye surgery or LASIK
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Allergies
• Wind exposure
• Lupus

The ideal dry eye treatment is one that keeps your eyes healthy, comfortable, looking great, and maintains the clearest vision. The best dry eye management includes over-the-counter topical remedies, prescription drops, and in-office therapies.

At Petrou Eye Care, you start by receiving a detailed ocular surface examination with our doctor to identify the reason for your dry, red, irritated eyes or ocular surface inflammation.

Our thorough examination will pinpoint your environmental, lifestyle, or genetic triggers. Then we can create a plan to relieve your discomfort and allow your eyes to look and feel great again!

Recommendations for your ideal dry eye treatment plan will be discussed in detail with all of the healthiest options reviewed, including but not limited to:

1. The best eye drops, gels, ointments, sprays, cleansers, supplements, heat masks
2. Prescription medication drops, suspensions, ointments that work
3. In-office punctal plug applications for tear evaporation
4. In-office medical grade IPL (intense pulsed light) for redness, rosacea, and dry eye
5. In-office medical grade LLLT (low level light therapy) of photobiomodulation for rejuvenation, meibomian gland disease and demodex blepharitis (For more information on Light Therapy, go to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8149274/)
6. Referral to ophthalmology oculoplastic surgeon for loose or droopy eyelids

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 pollen, and generally make the eyes feel better. Before we had better products, some doctors were recommending baby shampoo for eyelash cleansing!

Alone, artificial tear preparations cannot restore the eye’s ability to produce normal quality and quantity of tears. People with moderate to severe evaporative dry eye, inflammatory dry eye, or a combination of the two require more advanced medical ocular surface treatments and medications.