I LOVE fitting patients with contacts for sports, work and other activities. When patients tell me they have unopened boxes of contacts in their bathroom because wearing them makes their eyes feel too dry, it breaks my heart as an eye doctor.
Disheartening, for sure! An opportunity? Absolutely…because I see it as my chance to fix a problem and get the patient loving their contacts again!
To do this, we need to identify the cause of the dryness, but first let’s start with how our eyes are supposed to work…
Our eyes have a few sources of moisture. One is the lacrimal gland tucked under the bone where our eyebrows are. The lacrimal gland is the gland that produces tons of tears when we cry or get something in our eye.
Other sources of moisture include:
• A second network of glands embedded in the conjunctiva (the white surface of the eye and the undersurface of the eyelids) that produce water and mucus
• A third area of glands at the edge of the eyelids that produce an oily substance
SO WHAT CAUSES DRYNESS?
As we age, our tear production slows. If the lacrimal gland doesn’t make as many tears, you’ll have dry eye due to a lack of tear quantity. If any of the other glands slow, you’ll have dry eye due to a reduction of tear quality. We need all of our glands functioning properly to keep our eyes naturally moisturized. If any one type of gland stops functioning properly, the result is Dry Eye Syndrome. Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome include burning, stinging, grittiness, and an inability to tolerate contacts!
But it’s not just aging that can cause Dry Eye Syndrome. Other causes can include:
• Side effects from medications (antihistamines or blood pressure medications, for example)
• Underlying medical conditions (such as thyroid disorders, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, autoimmune disorders, or Parkinson’s disease)
• Environment (exposure to dust, smoke, pollutants, pollen)
• Eye surgeries
Also, looking at electronic gadgets for too long without blinking has seen a significant rise in the cause of dry eyes. It’s so common these days it actually has a name! It’s called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), and I’m seeing it so much more in the post-COVID world. People are working and learning from home and seeking entertainment online since we haven’t been able to leave the house. When we stare at our computer screens, we blink less. When we blink less our eyes get dry simply because they are open more. This dry eye related to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can cause discomfort, blurred, or even double vision.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR DRY EYES
Taking care of dry eyes not only relieves discomfort but can help avoid infection or even scarred corneas. Treatment can range from simple, over-the-counter treatments to more complex office procedures.
For patients who make enough tears but have dry eye symptoms, I often recommend:
• Warm compresses
• Gentle eyelid massage to stimulate the oil producing glands along the edge of the eyelids
For patients who aren’t making enough tears, I often recommend:
• Artificial tears or thick moisturizing ointments
• Prescription medicines that increase tear production (Restasis or Xiidra, for example)
• An in-office procedure to block tear drainage. This procedure is completely painless and I liken it to putting a “stopper in a bathtub” to keep more of your natural tears on your own eyes
For patients who have dysfunction of their oil producing glands, I may recommend:
• Oral medication for a period of time
• Prescription topical medications to target those specific glands
For patient who have damage to their corneas from extreme dry eye, I sometime use:
• Stem cell treatments to heal and revitalize the corneal surface
Other home remedies that can help dry eye include having a humidifier in the room and drinking more water. One thing is for sure…if you have burning, stinging eyes or are unable to tolerate your contacts, find an eye doctor that can help you! dry eye is treatable and getting it treated properly can get you back in your contacts!
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Amy