Dry Eye Syndrome

You may have noticed the sensation that your eyes feel more dry this time of year. As the heaters have been turned on and the humidity drops, dryness can often creep in. This dryness can be particularly bothersome if you are a person suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome or what is also referred to as Ocular Surface Disease.

A person suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome may often feel like they have burning, stinging eyes, redness, and a foreign body sensation. There are certain systemic diseases as well as eye and eyelid conditions that can exacerbate this condition. Some of the most common systemic diseases that put you more at risk for dry eye include Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid disease, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In addition, lifestyle factors such as increased caffeine consumption, increased computer use, and certain medications can lead to dry eye if not properly managed.

Your eye doctor plays a very important role in the fight against dry eye by diagnosing and treating this condition in a number of ways. The first line of treatment is often properly managing any eye conditions (i.e. blepharitis) or systemic diseases (i.e. Diabetes). Once this is under control your doctor will emphasize the necessity to change any lifestyle factors that are increasing your dry eye symptoms, such as making sure your work environment is ergonimically friendly for your eyes.

Artificial tears can be found over the counter and help alleviate dry eye symptoms in the short term, but if you find yourself using these more than 4 times a day, you should talk to your eye doctor about the possibility of using a prescription eye drop for your irritated eyes. Omega 3 vitamin supplements have been shown to improve your tear film and alleviate many symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Still another option for treating dry eye include punctal plugs which keep your tears from draining as quickly and thus keeps the tear film on your eyes for a longer period of time.

There are many different ways that your eye doctor can effectively treat your dry eye symptoms so be sure to mention it if you have any of these symptoms the next time you are in the office.