Dry Eye Disease, also known as Ocular Surface Disease (OSD) is a chronic condition that currently affects millions of people. Dry Eye Disease is no longer considered a condition that affects only women and the elderly. I have noticed a staggering increase in my young, healthy patients who are reporting dry eye symptoms. This has everything to do with our lifestyles – diet, and the excessive amount of screen time that we are all exposed to with all devices.
If you’ve experienced the persistent gritty or burning sensation of dry eyes, you know how much it can affect your daily life. Untreated Dry Eye Disease can disrupt everything from reading and working, to simply enjoying the outdoors. But does the condition pose a serious risk to your vision?
Dry Eye Disease doesn’t cause blindness on its own, but untreated complications can sometimes lead to severe vision problems, including pain, blurred vision that is not correctable with glasses and/or contact lenses and decrease in quality of life. I sometimes joke to my patients, ‘You only have 2 eyes, best to take care of them’. But in all reality, I’ve seen patients too many times not taking their diagnosis seriously and they end up with unwanted complications. Taking proactive steps allows the patient to find relief from symptoms and enjoy clear, comfortable vision for life.
What Is Dry Eye & Why Does It Happen?
Dry eye Disease is a complicated condition. It’s challenging to treat and can be caused by a multitude of factors – both systemic and environmental. Symptoms occur when the ocular surface does not have ample tear film to properly cover and protect the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped layer of your eye that covers the pupil and iris). Poor quality tear film and/or insufficient tear production can lead to symptoms. Tears aren’t just for crying. They play a critical role in maintaining eye health, as the tear film protects and hydrates the surface of the eye, removing debris and assisting with clear vision.
Our natural tear film is composed of separate 3 layers that work together to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear:
- Oily layer: The outer layer is made of oils secreted from the meibomian glands that are located within the eyelids. The oil layer prevents tear film evaporation and helps protect the ocular surface from the friction of blinking.
- Aqueous (Watery) layer: The middle layer, which is the thickest, is composed of aqueous (water) which provides oxygen and nutrients to your eyes and helps wash away dirt and irritants.
- Mucus layer: The innermost layer helps tears stick to your eye, keeping them hydrated and smooth.
Together, these layers protect, nourish, and hydrate your eyes so they stay comfortable. Most patients start to have dry eye symptoms when the balance of tear film is compromised causing a cycle of Inflammation. It typically happens in 2 ways:
- Aqueous deficient dry eye: The lacrimal glands fail to produce adequate tears, leaving the eye dehydrated.
- Evaporative dry eye: Often stemming from meibomian gland dysfunction, this type of dry eye affects the tear film’s oily layer and causes tears to evaporate too quickly.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye can manifest in many different ways, from feeling a little uncomfortable to downright irritating. Here are some common symptoms to keep an eye on:
- Burning, stinging eyes
- Red eyes
- Itching
- Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to irritation
- Blurred or fluctuating vision – especially while reading or on the computer
- Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- A feeling of having something in the eye (foreign body sensation)
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses or contact lens intolerance
- Pain on opening eyes in the morning
- Eye fatigue, particularly after prolonged screen use or reading
Can Dry Eye Lead to Vision Loss?
While dry eye alone isn’t a direct cause of blindness, chronic untreated cases can lead to complications that affect vision. Some of these complications may include:
- Corneal damage: Severe dry eye can leave your cornea (the clear dome at the front of the eye) unprotected. Persistent defects can occur if there is not ample tear film coverage on the cornea. These defects lead to discomfort, blurred vision and an ongoing risk to . damaging your eye, long term.
- Eye infections: A stable tear film protects the eyes from bacteria and other harmful agents. Without sufficient tears, your eyes are more likely to get infected.
- Difficulty healing: One underappreciated function of tears is their ability to promote healing. Without them, the eyes may struggle to heal properly from minor injuries, increasing the likelihood of further complications.
Though these complications can be serious, proper management and prompt treatment can mitigate risks to preserve your eyesight.
Dr. Wilson prepares for an IPL treatment with the OptiLIGHT by Lumenis. (photo: Paige Phillips Photography)
How to Manage & Treat Dry Eye
The first step in finding relief is finding the right eye doctor to properly diagnose your condition. Understanding any underlying causes can help the patient better manage the condition long term. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, a combination of at-home strategies and professional treatment can protect your long-term eye health. It’s all about detecting, treating, and then maintaining your visual comfort.
Some treatments your optometrist may recommend include:
- IPL therapy: Intense pulsed light (IPL) is an FDA approved treatment for Dry Eye Disease. It utilizes intense controlled pulses of light to reduce inflammation. Since beginning IPL treatments back in 2021, it has been a game changer for hundreds of my patients with inflammatory based dry eye disease and ocular rosacea.
- iLux: This treatment applies gentle, targeted heat to the eyelids, melting blockages in the meibomian glands and restoring the natural flow of oils.
- TempSure Envi: Utilizing radiofrequency technology, this non-invasive procedure gently warms the meibomian glands and melts any blockages. It also stimulates collagen production, which supports eyelid health and improves the tear film’s stability.
- BlephEx: A specialized device that cleans the eyelid margins and removes debris and the bacteria that cause a kind of inflammation called blepharitis. This helps to manage eyelid hygiene and promote healthier gland function.
- Prescription Drops: which lower inflammation and increase tear film production and stability.
Whether you only deal with dry eyes from time to time or they’re an ever-present part of your life, knowing how to manage them can make all the difference. Here are some tips you can implement to prevent or lessen dry eye symptoms:
- Blink regularly when working on screens and take breaks following the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look away at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
- Use a humidifier in dry indoor environments.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
- Eye-healthy nutrients can support a strong tear film.
- Apply warm compresses to help open blocked meibomian glands and improve the production of the oily layer in the tear film.
- Artificial tears can provide temporary relief by lubricating the eyes and supplementing natural tears.
Safeguard Your Vision Today
Dry eye disease is more than an annoyance—it’s a condition that can lead to serious eye health concerns if left untreated. There’s no need to spend your days wincing with every blink. Instead, let our team at Bella Vision protect your eye health so you can enjoy all the small, beautiful details that life has to offer.
Don’t wait to take control of your vision—book your comprehensive eye exam with us today and discover solutions tailored just for you!
