What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome, also called Keratoconjunctivitis sicca or
xerophthalmia, refers to a lack of lubrication and moisture in
the eye. This is mainly due to a decrease in the tear production
or an increase in the tear film evaporation. The typical
symptoms of dry eye syndrome are burning and a subtle but
constant eye irritation. The condition may also lead to
inflammation of the frontal eye tissue.
There are several factors that may bring about dry eye syndrome.
The condition is more common with older age, since tear
production decreases with age. Dry eye as a syndrome may occur
as a side effect of many medications. Harsh environmental
conditions, such as a dusty or windy climate, may worsen the
condition. Even your workplace environment, comprising of air
conditioning or a dry heating system, may easily dry out your
eyes. Insufficient blinking, such as, when constantly staring at
a monitor screen, is another significant cause of dry eye
syndrome.
The basic treatment for dry eye syndrome is to replenish the
moisture content of the eye surface. To accomplish this, the
ophthalmologist typically prescribes artificial tears, which are
lubricating eye drops that aid in alleviating the symptoms of
irritation and burning sensation in the eyes. Another treatment
that goes one step further involves the application of Restasis
(cyclosporine) eye drops, which effectively enhance tear
production. A healthy diet, comprising of a sufficient amount of
omega-3 fatty acids, lowers the chances of contracting dry eye
syndrome. Salmon, sardine, herring, and cod liver oils are rich
sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Patients wearing contact lenses need to take an extra precaution
prior to the application of artificial tears. Specifically, it
is necessary that the patient removes the contact lenses before
using the eye drops. Moreover, the patient needs to wait 15
minutes or longer for the medicinal drops to take effect, and
only after that can the contact lenses be worn again.
Dry eye syndrome is slightly more common in women than in men. A
shocking 10-14 million people in the United States suffer from
dry eye syndrome. The condition is more prevalent among those
older than 40 years. An estimated 75% of the old-aged population
shows signs of dry eye syndrome.
If you suffer from any of the above explained symptoms that
depict the dry eye syndrome, please visit your doctor as soon as
possible to avoid any complications.