Dry Eyes

Dry eye is more than an inconvenience. Dry eye is a disease.

Dry eye is a condition that affects your tear film, the three layers of tears that cover and protect the surface of your eyes.

Functions of the tears:

1. Preventing dryness: Tears prevent dryness by coating the surface of the eye, as well as protecting it from external irritants.

2. Creating a smooth surface on the eye: Tears lubricate and smooth the surfaces of our eyes so that light is refracted correctly, enabling us to see clearly.

3. Supplying oxygen and nutrients to the eyes: There are no blood vessels on the surface of the eye, so oxygen and nutrients are transported to the surface cells by tears.

4. Preventing infection: Foreign bodies that enter the eye are washed out by tears. Moreover, tears contain a substance called lysozyme, which has an antibacterial action, and works to prevent invasion and infection by microbes.

Many people suffer for years from the discomfort and pain of Dry Eye Disease. Most try various products to manage their disease, and while many of the Over-The-Counter products can provide relief, it is just temporary symptom relief.

Types of Dry Eye

Aqueous deficient dry eye: This is when your eyes don’t produce enough tears. Your lacrimal gland (in the upper, outer corner of each eye) produces your aqueous tears. These tears make up the middle, watery layer of your tear film. Some autoimmune conditions can cause inflammation in your lacrimal gland and prevent it from producing enough aqueous tears.

Evaporative dry eye: This is when your tears evaporate too quickly. The most common cause is meibomian gland dysfunction. This means the glands in your eyelids that produce the outer, oily layer of your tear film don’t work properly. As a result, the oily layer is unstable and can’t protect the watery layer from drying up.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a leading cause of Dry Eye Disease. 86% of dry eye patients have MGD, and yet it is very often overlooked.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

When you have dry eye, you might feel like there’s something in your eye that just won’t come out. This can feel like a scratchy, gritty or sandy sensation. Symptoms may also include:

• Burning or stinging

• Feeling sensitive to light

• Blurred or changed vision

• Mucus that comes out of your eye

• Watery eyes, with excess tears running down your cheeks

What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD?

Healthy Meibomian glands that line your upper and lower eyelids secrete oil with every blink. This oil, or lipid, serves as a critical component of a healthy tear film in that it helps prevent tear film evaporation. When the glands are not functioning correctly, it is called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, or MGD. MGD is a leading cause of Dry Eye Disease and can be the source of dry eye symptoms, such as burning, stinging, and itching. However, even patients without symptoms (asymptomatic) could have MGD.

What Causes MGD?

MGD is caused by anatomical changes in the Meibomian glands. If left untreated, MGD may worsen over time. The symptoms include irritation, inflammation, and eye dryness. However, 1 in 5 MGD patients have no symptoms making an MGD evaluation a good idea for everyone. Because MGD is chronic and progressive, it becomes worse the longer it goes untreated. The good news is that there are effective steps you can take if you are diagnosed with MGD that can help to minimize its long- term impact. And, getting screened and treating MGD is easy.

Recommended Treatments

The appropriate treatment for your Dry Eye will depend on what is causing your condition and may include: Vitamins, over the counter artificial tears, prescription eye drops, lid hygiene, in office expression and in office treatment procedures.

If you feel you are suffering from it, we can help you. After our initial testing, Dr. Kim will create a customized treatment plan just for you.