Dry Eye: Over 10 million Americans Have It…
Are You One of Them?

It is estimated over 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with dry eye, a common condition affecting the eye’s surface. Dry eye results when there is an improper balance of tear production or poor quality of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears play an important role in maintaining the health of the front of the eye and in providing clear vision. Our tears have many functions:

• Tears provide lubrication.
• Tears help reduce eye infections.
• Tears wash away foreign particles.
• Tears keep the eye’s surface smooth and clear, contributing to good vision.

What are symptoms of Dry Eye?
People with dry eyes experience many symptoms including irritated, gritty, scratchy, or burning eyes. Some people feel like there is something in their eyes. Patients with dry eyes may also experience excess watering and blurred vision. 

What causes Dry Eye?
Smoky, windy and dry conditions can lead to symptoms of dry eye. Advancing age (especially in females) is one of the causes of dry eye. Additionally, many prescription and over the counter medications can also cause dry eye.

How do you treat Dry eye?

• Adding tears: Managing dry eyes include adding tears (often through using artificial tear drops). 
• Conserving tears: An additional approach to treatment is blocking tear ducts through which tears drain.
• Increasing tear production: Prescription eye drops are also available to increase tear production.
• Treatment of contributing eyelid or ocular surface inflammation: Ocular inflammations can contribute to dry eye problems. Therefore, aggressive treatment for underlying inflammations with prescription drops or ointments may be necessary.  

Once you have been diagnosed with dry eye, there are self-care steps to reduce symptoms:

• Remember to blink regularly when reading or staring at a computer screen for long periods of time.
• Increase the level of humidity in the area at work and at home.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors, particularly the wrap around frame design, to reduce exposure to drying winds and sun.

Use nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids to decrease dry eye symptoms. Ask your eye doctor if dietary supplements would be helpful.