DRY EYE SYNDROME FAQ
What is dry eye
syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome is a group of disorders affecting the film of tears over the
eye. When you have dry eye syndrome, either you don't produce enough tears, or
you have unstable tears and excessive tear evaporation.
Who is at risk for dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye occurs most often in the elderly, and nearly 75 percent of people over
age 65 may experience dry eye symptoms, according to Schepens Eye Research
Institute in Boston, the largest independent eye research institute in the U.S.
and an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School. Although the cause of dry eye
syndrome is unknown, it tends to occur more often in women, especially those who
are pregnant or postmenopausal. Nearly 3.2 million American women and more than
one million American men age 50 and older suffer from painful and debilitating
dry eye syndrome, according to results of a recent study administered by the
Schepens Eye Research Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital. The condition
affects women two to three times more than men.
How do I know if I have dry eye syndrome?
The early symptoms of dry eye syndrome include eye redness; a
burning, stinging, and/or gritty sensation in the eye, especially
in an environment with low humidity; a feeling that something is
in the eye; trouble wearing contact lenses; and a gritty feeling
that is persistent and painful. In mild cases, these symptoms may
come and go. As dry eye worsens, the symptoms become more
persistent. Severe cases of dry eye may also have eyes that are
unusually sensitive to light, and may experience severe eye pain
or notice changing vision.
What's a Schirmer test? Will it hurt?
A Schirmer test measures your tear production. It is often
conducted when your health care professional sees a lack of a tear
pool during the initial slit lamp examination, and finds dry areas
in one of the stain tests. Your health care professional will take
a special strip of filter paper, put a tiny fold in it, and place
it on the tear pool on the edge of the lower eyelid. The paper
remains in place for five minutes, absorbing the tears. The test
produces no pain, but some patients find it slightly
uncomfortable. It does not affect vision. After the five-minute
time period, the paper strip is removed and the area of wetness
measured in millimeters (mm). A wetness area of 15 mm is normal. A
reading of 10 mm is below normal, but most patients can tolerate
it, and may have a few symptoms. A reading of 5 mm is low, and
most patients at this level do have some symptoms. Patients with
many dry eye symptoms may have a reading of 2 mm or lower.
Can dry eye syndrome be cured?
No, but it can be treated. The cause of dry eye at this time is
unknown. Dry eye can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It
also is a symptom of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease
that attacks the body's lubricating glands, such as the tear and
salivary glands. And, it can be a side effect of a variety of
over-the-counter and prescription medications. Because there is no
cure, health care professionals direct treatment at managing
symptoms.
What is the most common treatment for dry eye?
Over-the-counter artificial tears in the form of eye drops are the
mainstays of dry eye treatment. Most health care professionals
recommend you take the drops as often as you need them to relieve
symptoms. Your health care professional can recommend what brands
may be best for you. As a general rule, if you use artificial
tears more than two times a day for dry eye symptoms, you should
visit your health care professional to discuss additional
treatments.
Artificial tears don't seem to be relieving my dry eye symptoms.
Will punctal plugs help me?
Possibly, but talk to your health care professional about what
treatment might be right for you. In cases of moderate to severe
dry eye, a temporary or permanent plug about the size of a sesame
seed can be inserted into some of the channels, or puncta, at the
inner corner of the eyelid where tears drain into the nose and
back of the throat. This helps conserve tears. Plugs are inserted
by your health care professional in the office in minutes using a
magnifying instrument to best see the punctum. Collagen punctal
plugs eventually dissolve, and often are used to see whether
permanent plugs will help the eye retain tears and can be
tolerated by the patient. Silicone punctal plugs are considered
permanent, although your health care professional can remove them.
How can I prevent dry eye syndrome?
There is no way to prevent dry eye syndrome. But, you can help
preserve your tears by avoiding anything that can cause dryness,
such as hair dryers, rooms with low humidity, and wind. Placing a
humidifier in the room when indoor heat is used, and wearing
wrap-around glasses when outside may provide some relief from dry
eye. Smoking is especially bothersome to dry eye sufferers, and
should be avoided.
