Symptoms and causes of Dry Eye Disease are often confused and interchanged as sufferers have a hard time identifying how and why they have Dry Eye. Although dry eye is commonly associated with aging, there are other known causes to the disease. Environmental factors and lifestyle choices can increase your chances of developing Dry Eye symptoms.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Some of these symptoms often include stinging, burning, scratchy sensation, sensitivity to light, tearing, tired eyes, contact lens discomfort, redness, feeling there’s dirt in your eye, pain, blurred vision. Most of these symptoms are often passed as “allergies” and simply ignored. Currently, 1 in 5 Americans has been diagnosed with dry eye [1] .

Most dry eye sufferers experience only minor irritation and quickly disregard them. However, if left untreated, dry eye can progress and in severe cases vision loss can occur. Worst case scenario, dry eye can seriously affect quality of life as some sufferers will have trouble keeping their eyes open. Thankfully, early treatment can make a big difference when treating dry eye – the sooner you get diagnosed, the better.

Common Dry Eye Causes

Aging: As mentioned before, aging is a common cause of dry eye. As we get older, we experience a reduction of our lipid layer – the oily top layer that prevents tears and moisture in our eyes from evaporating. The majority of people ages 65 and older experience dry eye symptoms. A large number of these will be women as they are affected by hormonal changes and imbalances during menopause.

Contact Lens Wear: If you or someone you know wears contact lenses, then you know how uncomfortably dry they can get. Contacts float on the tear film that covers the cornea and they absorb the moisture in the eyes.

Lifestyle choices:

• Working long hours in front of a screen (tv or computer) decreases the amount of times you blink. Blinking coats the eye with tears, so the less you blink the drier your eyes get. For those of you stuck in an office 8hrs a day, take a break from the computer and look out the window. Close your eyes for a couple of minutes and blink a couple of times.
• Smoking has a lot of detrimental effects on the eyes. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School found nearly a twofold increase of dry eye in smokers [2] .

LASIK Surgery: It is known for causing and/or worsening dry eye symptoms on some patients. When the corneal nerves are cut during the procedure, it stops stimulating tear production, causing dry eye. LASIK Surgery is not recommended for patients already suffering from severe dry eye.

Environmental Factors: Spending long hours in windy environments (such as strong air conditioning or wind tunnels) will definitely increase dryness in your eye. Extremely hot/dry climates can also have that effect. Pollution and dust can also contribute to dry eye symptoms.

Medications: Certain medications have been known to be the cause of dry eye. Accutane – mostly prescribed to fight acne, birth control pills, antidepressants, certain antihistamines, antibiotics, diuretics. These drugs are also known for worsening dry eye symptoms. Ask your doctor before taking any of these drugs.

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The problem with dry eye symptoms – as with many other diseases – is that sufferers tend to ignore their discomfort until it impedes their ability to function properly. Only then do they go see a doctor. According to the same study, a whopping 69% of US adults who experienced one or more dry eye symptoms had not visited an eye care professional to treat symptoms. It does not help that symptoms take time to manifest. Redness, temporary inflammation and itchy eyes are often discarded as allergy symptoms or eye fatigue.

It all started with bloodshot eyes…

If you experience bloodshot eyes and inflammation after watching TV or working in front of a screen for too long, simply take a break from these activities and see if your eyes go back to normal. If they don’t and the inflammation is persistent, it might mean that the eye is not receiving proper lubrication and the surface of the eye is drying up. If left untreated, the eye will inevitably become drier and the most common dry eye symptoms will start to show.

The first thing you need to do is get a proper eye exam to determine if you are suffering from dry eye disease. If you are diagnosed with mild dry eye you will likely receive tear drops to help with your symptoms – use them sparingly. Prolonged use of tear drops basically tells your eye “hey, you don’t need to produce tears anymore because I got that covered” and it will affect your moisture balance, increasing your symptoms. The same goes for Visine-type products, many over-the counter products contain tetrahydrozoline or naphazoline, which act as vasoconstrictors shrinking the outer blood vessels in the white parts of your eye and depriving it of oxygen, once you stop with the drops they send a signal to your brain asking for more oxygen, enlarging the blood vessels and in turn they make your eyes redder than before – this is known as “Rebound Effect”.

Symptoms are current and long lasting…

Chronic dry eye is debilitating. Your eyes are burning, itching, irritated, they are light-sensitive, crusty, and in some cases you can’t even keep your eyes open long enough to work or drive; needless to say, your quality of life decreases drastically. The symptoms severity depends greatly on medication, age, environmental factors, and hormone balances. This makes it an ongoing battle with symptoms flaring up when you think relief has been found. Many sufferers find the condition frustrating since it involves constant day-to-day management.

Because tears’ main functions besides lubrication is to protect your eyes from bacteria and dust, having chronic dry eye means your eyes are exposed to infection and you need to clean them daily in order to relieve some symptoms.

Even though we have listed the main differences between mild and chronic dry eye, a proper diagnostic test should tell you exactly how mild or how severe your symptoms are. This is crucial as each eye is different and not all patients respond the same to treatment options.

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Proper hygiene and nutrition are needed to prevent the clogging of your tear ducts.  The problem with makeup is that it does precisely that – it clogs. But not all is lost for dry eye patients, there are certain “tips and tricks” you can do to help you keep your mascara on.

Eye Shadows

Its important to avoid powder-base eye shadows as the particles can easily find their way into your eye. Opt for cream-based and liquid eye shadows instead. The good news is that colors are equally vibrant!

Avoid applying any kind of makeup around the very edge of the lid margin as the product will eventually end up inside your eyes.

The dreaded Mascara

Putting on mascara involves brushing the contents from the root of your lashes and upwards. The key here is to apply the mascara from above – thus avoiding the lid margin – and try not to brush to hard, just enough to get color on your lashes.

One thing with liquid eye-shadows, eye-liners, and mascaras – avoid brands that contain alcohol.

You put it on, now take it off

Improper eye makeup removal can lead to increased eye irritation and infection. Most makeup removers, baby oil and Vaseline products remove makeup from the eyelid but leave residue around the eyelid rim and this residue is then spread all over the eye.

So, to avoid this situation, make sure you are using non waterproof makeup (especially the mascara) and use a mild cleanser. Apply a warm compress on your eyes, and then clean the lid margins using a soft scrubbing/wiping motion. There are products on the shelves for lid scrubbing, or you can use baby shampoo. Just make sure what you choose is gentle.

Did you know? Women are 3 times more likely to be affected by dry eye than men. It is often caused by hormonal changes due to aging, menopause, and other medical conditions or their treatments.

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A cautionary note; when consuming Omega-3 directly from eating fish, be mindful of the toxins in seafood and the environmental effects of harvesting those fish.

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Eyelids can play a role in dry eye disease discomfort. The glands along the eyelids can get clogged or bogged down by bacteria, make-up residue and other debris. Keeping clean healthy eyelids can help ease dry eye discomfort.

Lid Scrubs are recommended to prevent the glands from getting clogged. Scrubs also stimulate meibomian gland secretions (lid scrubs along with heat treatment soften the glands and allow for flow of oil).

Lid Scrubbing does not mean you need to vigorously scrub your lids until it hurts! Gentle wiping will work just fine.

Here are a few tips on how to keep your lids clean and fresh:

Warm Compresses: Soak a clean washcloth with hot water. Fold the washcloth into a roll and hold it in contact with both eyelids until the cloth cools. Reheat the cloth and repeat this procedure for at least five minutes.
Lid Washing: Following these warm compresses, lightly wash the eyelashes and eyelids with your eyes closed using a mild soap, such as baby shampoo, diluted in one cap ful of water. You can use either your finger or a soft washcloth. You can replace baby shampoo with commercially prepared “lid scrub” products.

If you require a more gentle alternative, try using a cotton bud dipped in boiled distilled water or a saline solution, or a weak solution of baby shampoo.

Hygiene in dry eye patients is a long-term process. You will need to do it often at the beginning to clear out clogs and, as you feel an improvement in your symptoms; you can do it less frequently after a period of time.

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