There Are Two Types of Dry Eye

Aqueous Tear-Deficient Dry Eye

When a patient has aqueous dry eye, their lacrimal glands do not produce sufficient natural moisture to keep their eyes healthy and comfortable. Several conditions and factors may contribute to the development of this form of dry eye syndrome.

Evaporative Dry Eye

Evaporative dry eye occurs when your eyes produce poor-quality tears that evaporate too quickly (EDE). This is frequently the result of obstructed meibomian glands, which add oil to eye moisture to prevent rapid evaporation.

Why Tear Composition Matters

Tears are a complex mixture of water (produced by the lacrimal gland), fatty oils (produced by the meibomian gland), and mucus. These three layers must function in harmony. Dry eyes can be brought on by problems with any layer. The mucus layer aids in the distribution of the aqueous layer across the eye's surface, whereas the lipid layer prevents the aqueous layer from evaporating too rapidly.

Dry Eye Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of dry eye syndrome list below, we encourage you to schedule a examination.

Gritty Sensation in the Eyes

Itchy, Burning, or Redness

Stringy Eye Mucus

Blurry Vision

Watery Eyes

Light Sensitivity

Many of these symptoms can make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable, making it difficult to use your corrective eyewear to maintain clear vision. We are here to assist you in attaining relief, comfort, and clear vision   This may involve simple eyedrops or more complex remedies.

What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

The Natural Aging Process

Many individuals aged 50 and older suffer from dry eye symptoms. This is the result of decreased tear production and systemic conditions.

Damaged Tear Ducts

Eye or eyelid injuries can lead to damage to the tear ducts. This has a negative effect on the overall moisture of the eye, contributing to dry eye.

Eye Surgery

Surgeries such as LASIK can result in severed corneal nerves. And therefore, the surface of the eye cannot detect the need for moisture. Typically, this side effect is only temporary.

Inflammation around the Eyes

Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids, may contribute to clogged oil glands. This alters the composition of tears and can lead to dry eye syndrome.

Medication Side Effects

Numerous medications, including painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, birth control, sleeping pills, and antihistamines, can cause dry eyes.

Medical Conditions

Dry eye could also be a symptom of a systemic disorder, such as diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or thyroid issues.

Environmental Factors

This common form of dry eye syndrome may be caused by environmental factors including dry climates, strong winds, and smoky environments.
Dry Eye

Screens and Dry Eye
WHY BLINK RATE MATTERS

People typically blink between 15 and 20 times per minute, which is essential for maintaining the moisture of the surface of the eyes. Studies indicate that your blink rate decreases by 66 percent if you stare at a screen for extended periods of time.

This means that using a laptop, smartphone, or tablet can cause symptoms of dry eyes.

Practice the 20-20-20 rule to reset your blink rate and prevent screen-related dry eye. Every 20 minutes, remove your eyes from the screen for 20 seconds and focus on an object 20 feet away.

Dry Eye Diagnosis

Whether your symptoms are caused by rheumatoid arthritis, environmental factors, or other causes, we use both time-tested and cutting-edge diagnostic techniques to determine the most effective treatment for you.

Comprehensive Exam

Dr. Miller will take note of your symptoms before examining the ocular surface and conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the eye and lines the inner eyelids) for dryness using a variety of techniques.

InflammaDry

InflammaDry® is a non-invasive, low-cost technology that measures ocular moisture and MMP-9, an inflammatory marker. The results of an InflammaDry test are available in minutes.

Keratography

Keratography is a noninvasive method that analyses the corneal surface topography and the meibomian glands of the eyelids. It can also record the time that tears break up.

Dry Eye Treatment

Dr. Kenneth Miller can propose a treatment plan based on the underlying cause of dry eye syndrome once he has made the diagnosis. In general, therapies for dry eyes aim to increase tear production and quality while reducing tear evaporation and outflow. When appropriate, we employ numerous forms of advanced technologies to alleviate the symptoms.