Dry Eye Syndrome

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition where the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, leading to discomfort and potential damage to the eye's surface. This condition can cause a range of symptoms, including dryness, irritation, burning, and redness.

Types of Dry Eye Syndrome

1. Evaporative Dry Eye: This type occurs when the tears produced by the eyes evaporate too quickly. It is often due to meibomian gland dysfunction, where the glands responsible for producing the oily layer of tears become blocked or inflamed. This leads to an imbalance in the tear film, resulting in increased tear evaporation and dry eye symptoms.
2. Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: This type is characterized by insufficient tear production. The lacrimal glands, which are responsible for producing the watery component of tears, do not produce enough tears to keep the eyes adequately lubricated. This can be caused by various factors, including autoimmune diseases like Sjögren's syndrome, aging, or certain medications.

Blepharitis and Its Role in Dry Eye

Blepharitis is a common eyelid condition that can contribute to dry eye syndrome. It involves inflammation of the eyelid margins, often due to bacterial infection, clogged oil glands, or skin conditions such as dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. The inflammation from blepharitis can disrupt the normal function of the meibomian glands, leading to increased tear evaporation and exacerbating dry eye symptoms.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Symptoms can vary but commonly include:

• Dryness or Gritty Sensation: A feeling of dryness, sandiness, or grittiness in the eyes.
• Redness and Irritation: Red, itchy, or burning eyes.
• Excessive Tearing: Paradoxically, the eyes may produce excessive tears as a reaction to dryness.
• Blurred Vision: Vision may become blurry or fluctuate.
• Sensitivity to Light: Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing dry eye syndrome involves a comprehensive eye exam where your eye care professional will assess the quality and quantity of your tears, evaluate your symptoms, and examine the condition of your ocular surface.

Treatment options for dry eye syndrome may include:

• Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter or prescription eye drops to provide lubrication.
• Medications: Prescription medications to stimulate tear production or reduce inflammation.
• Warm Compresses: Applying warm compresses to the eyes can help open blocked meibomian glands and improve oil flow.
• Eyelid Hygiene: Regular cleaning of the eyelid margins to manage blepharitis and prevent further irritation.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Adjusting environmental factors, such as using a humidifier, and reducing exposure to irritants like smoke or wind.

MYAH: Non-Invasive Testing for Optimal Eye Health

At Radiant Eyes, we utilize the MYAH, an advanced diagnostic tool, to assist in diagnosing dry eye syndrome. The MYAH performs a series of scans and tests that allow us to non-invasively evaluate various aspects of your eye health that contribute to dry eyes, including your tear quality, tear production, tear volume, and eyelid gland function.

• Meibography: Provides detailed imaging of the meibomian glands, allowing us to assess their function and identify any blockages or abnormalities.
• Non-Invasive Tear Film Analysis: Evaluates the stability of the tear film without using dyes, offering insights into tear production and overall quality.
• Tear Meniscus Analysis: Measures the volume of tears and the height of the tear meniscus to ensure there is an adequate amount of tear film.

These advanced assessments help us create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. 

Schedule Your Dry Eye Evaluation

If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eye syndrome or blepharitis, it’s important to seek professional evaluation and care. At Radiant Eyes, we provide individualized dry eye evaluations to diagnose and treat dry eye syndrome and related conditions.