What’s Behind Watery Eyes? | Everyday Health

When you produce too many tears, or when normal tear drainage is blocked, your eyes may get a little watery. The influx of tears can spill onto your eyelids and cheeks, as though you are crying. Is there anything you can do about it? Yes, depending on the cause.

Tears are essential for nourishment and lubrication of the human eye. Every time you blink, you’re washing your eyes with tears produced by the lacrimal glands in your upper eyelids. These glands will produce extra tears in response to irritation and inflammation. Tears normally drain out of the eye and into the nose through ducts located in the corners of your eyes.

But people with watery eyes are usually experiencing an overproduction of tears, which are made up of water, oil, and mucous. These excess tears can be caused by:

• Dry-eye syndrome. It may not make sense, but dry-eye syndrome often leads to watery eyes. When eyes dry out, they become irritated and uncomfortable. That prompts the lacrimal glands to produce so many tears that they overwhelm the eye’s natural drainage system. Tear production tends to lessen with age, so dry eyes are more common in older adults. Some medical conditions and medications can also lead to dryness, as can a dry and windy environment. But the most common cause of dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). People with this condition make tears, but the tears do not contain enough water. In addition to excessive tearing, symptoms of dry eye syndrome may include blurred vision, itchy eyes, or burning eyes. One remedy for milder cases of dry eye is using over-the-counter artificial tears. Other treatments include prescription drugs.
• Allergies. Substances that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens. Reaction to allergens can cause your eyes to become red and irritated, prompting tear production, itching, and burning. The most common outdoor causes of allergic eye symptoms are grass, tree, and weed pollens. The most common indoor causes are pet dander, dust mites, and molds. Other causes of itchy, watery eyes that are not true allergens include exhaust fumes, aerosol sprays, perfumes, and cigarette smoke.
• Infections. Part of your body’s response to an eye infection can be to produce excess tears. This is an effort to keep the eye lubricated and wash away germs and discharge. Conjunctivitis (infection of the thin, clear membrane covering most of the eye) and blepharitis (infection of the eyelid margins) are two infectious diseases known to cause watery eyes. “Pink eye” is a common term for conjunctivitis. Causes include bacteria, fungi, and, most commonly, viruses. Wearing contact lenses may increase the risk of conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can occur in one or both eyes. Symptoms may include eye pain, blurred vision, redness, gritty feeling in the eyes, discharge, and crusts that form at night, along with increased tearing.
• Irritants. Your eyes produce excess tears in response to other types of irritation, such as dry air, bright light, wind, smoke, dust, an eyelash, or exposure to chemicals. Eyestrain also can cause watery eyes.

Watery eyes may also be due to a blockage of the ducts that normally drain away tears, although this is less common. This blockage is called lacrimal stenosis. The overflow of tears it causes is called epiphora. Infections can spread into the lacrimal duct from the inside of the nose and cause scarring. Trauma and surgery of the nose are other causes of lacrimal duct blockage.

Another watery eye type is related to poor eyelid function. In order for tears to spread evenly over the eyes and be pushed to the corners of the eye for proper drainage, the eyelids need to close correctly. One of the most common causes of this type of watery eye problem is called ectropion. This condition is a drooping and pulling away of the lower eyelid. It is usually seen in older people who gradually develop a weakness of the lower lid. Ectropion may cause the eyes to be dry, sore, red, and burning. It may also increase the risk of eye infection.

Most often, watery eyes are a symptom rather than a cause of eye distress. Sure, they can be an annoyance, but unless they are accompanied by eye pain or redness, excess tears are usually not a serious problem.

How Watery Eyes Are Diagnosed and Treated

You may be able to figure out the cause of your watery eyes on your own:

• If your eyes feel dry, raw, and uncomfortable just before they begin to water, you are probably experiencing dry eye syndrome.
• If your eyes are itchy and swollen, allergies are the likely culprit.

In these cases, over-the-counter remedies are available:

• Prescription and over-the-counter drops for dry-eye syndrome. If dry eyes are causing excess tearing, you can head off that response by using artificial tears to keep your eyes moist. Artificial tears can also help wash away any irritants like dust that may be causing your eyes to water. Using artificial tears without preservatives — in individual disposable applicators — is best.
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicated eye drops help treat allergies that are causing watery eyes by interrupting the body’s immune response.

Some steps you can take to prevent dry, itchy, eye irritation include remembering to blink regularly when using your computer and taking occasional breaks to rest your eyes and prevent eye strain. Increase the humidity in your home or work environment if your eyes are dry and irritated. Wear sunglasses to reduce eye irritation from sun and wind exposure, and drink plenty of water to prevent becoming dehydrated and to maintain healthy tearing.

When to Contact Your Doctor

You should consult your family doctor or eye doctor if you are experiencing:

• Unexplained tearing over a long period
• Watery eyes that are also red and producing discharge
• Watery eyes and eye pain
• Watery eyes and sore sinuses

Your doctor will examine your eyes, perform tests on the quantity and quality of your tears, and look at how your eyes drain away tears. If you have an infection, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics or, if you have dry eyes or allergies, suggest other treatments.

In rare instances, surgery can be done to open blocked tear ducts. The surgeon can create a new tear duct in your eye through a procedure called dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). For a tear duct that has narrowed but is not fully blocked, the surgeon can widen it with a small probe.

Ectropion can be corrected by tightening the muscles that hold the eyelid in place. This outpatient procedure can be done using local anesthesia.

Related Symptoms That May Accompany Watery Eyes

• Runny nose and sneezing. These symptoms along with watery eyes may be due to allergies.
• Epiphora. If it occurs along with symptoms of a sinus infection or head cold, it may be due to a blocked tear duct.
• Excessive tearing, blepharitis, and conjunctivitis. When these symptoms occur in an older person, they may be due to ectropion.
• Dry eyes along with bulging of the eyes. This may be a sign of overactive thyroid disease.
• Dry eyes along with changes in vision and arthritis. These symptoms together may be signs of KCS.

The bottom line? If your watery eyes don’t clear up with over-the-counter treatment, you should get medical attention to make you more comfortable.

Artificial tears: How to select eyedrops for dry eyes

I have dry eyes. What should I look for when selecting artificial tears?

Answer From Alaina L. Softing Hataye, O.D.

Artificial tears are eyedrops used to lubricate dry eyes and help maintain moisture on the outer surface of your eyes. Such eyedrops may be used to treat dry eyes that result from aging, certain medications, a medical condition, eye surgery or environmental factors, such as smoky or windy conditions.

Artificial tears are available without a prescription. No single brand works best for every form of dry eyes. You may need to try several different brands before you find one that works best for you.

Besides lubricating your eyes, some artificial tears also promote healing of the eyes and others work to decrease tear evaporation. Artificial tears may also contain thickening agents, which keep the solution on the surface of your eyes longer.

There are two categories of artificial tears:

• Eyedrops with preservatives. This type often comes in multidose bottles and contains chemicals (preservatives) that discourage growth of bacteria once the bottle has been opened. The preservatives may irritate your eyes, especially if you have moderate or severe dry eyes.
• Preservative-free eyedrops. This type has fewer additives and is generally recommended if you apply artificial tears more than four times a day, or if you have moderate or severe dry eyes. Preservative-free eyedrops may come in single-dose vials.

Artificial tears are also available as nonprescription gels and gel inserts. These may cause temporary blurred vision.

If you still don’t have relief after trying various products, the next step might be to try one or more artificial tear ointments. These can temporarily cause blurred vision, so you might prefer to apply the ointment just before bedtime.

If you haven’t experienced some relief with these efforts, make an appointment with an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist), who can suggest other treatments.

With

Alaina L. Softing Hataye, O.D.

Feb. 23, 2021

Show references

1. Dry eye. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-dry-eye. Accessed Jan. 25, 2021.
2. Dry eye. American Optometric Association. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye?sso=y. Accessed Jan. 25, 2021.
3. Shtein RM. Dry eye disease. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 25, 2021.
4. Pucker AD, et al. Over the counter (OTC) artificial tear drops for dry eye syndrome (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com. Accessed Jan. 25, 2021.
5. Softing Hataye AL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 4, 2019.

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10 Causes of Watery Eyes: Diagnosis and Treatment

Photo by Aliyah Jamous on Unsplash

Ever get watery eyes? Do your tears overflow as if you are crying? Then you might be experiencing epiphora. Epiphora or watery eyes is one of the most common eye problems, particularly in older people.

Tears help keep the eyes stay nourished, lubricated and safe from foreign particles. Certain emotions like sadness, happiness and anger can cause your eyes to water. Spending too much time in front of the computer screen can also make you tear up. The eyes also automatically produce tears when something gets into the eye surface, like dust, smoke, a speck of dirt, eyelash, etc. These are all normal.

Once the irritating particle got flushed out or once you’re able to rest your eye after spending some time in front of your computer, the eyes would stop watering. This is not the case for others. Some people experience uncontrolled tearing.

Although some may consider watery eyes or epiphora a minor problem, it can still affect one’s daily life. Extremely watery eyes can get irritating and troublesome.

So, what causes watery eyes? There can be several potential reasons for someone to develop watery eyes. Read on to understand more about this condition as we discuss its causes, diagnosis, treatments and remedies.

Causes of Watery Eyes

Several conditions can trigger watery eyes. It can be one or more of the following.

1.

Dry Eyes

Why would your eyes get watery when you have dry eyes? Yes, this might sound counterintuitive but dry eye disease often leads to extremely watery eyes. Dry eyes can get irritating and uncomfortable. As the body’s natural response, the eyes start to produce more tears to get rid of the irritation. But it can get too much for the eyes’ natural drainage to handle, thus causing the tears to overflow.

Aside from excessive watering of the eyes and constant irritation, dry eye disease can also cause vision problems, stinging, inflammation, redness and burning.

2. Blocked Tear Ducts

The tear ducts are the eyes’ natural drainage system. They are the small holes in the corner of your eyes. The lacrimal glands produce tears, then they wash over the surface of the eye and then drained out through the tear ducts.

With blocked tear ducts, the tears accumulate in the eye surface and then overflow. There are several factors than cause blockage to the tear ducts like aging, inflammation, infection, injury and others.

This is the most common cause of watery eyes for infants. Babies, especially newborns are susceptible to blocked tear ducts but they often resolve on their own.

3. Ectropion and Entropion

The eyelids serve as the eyes’ windshield. They spread the tears through the eye surface when you blink and get rid of the extra moisture. Eyelid problems can cause watery eyes. Ectropion and entropion are conditions that affect in which direction the eyelids turn to.

With ectropion, the lower eyelid is turning outward. This makes the lower eyelids droop or sag, making it hard for the eyelids to wipe the whole eye when you blink.

On the other hand, entropion is the inward turning of the lower eyelid against the eyeball. With entropion, lashes have the tendency to continuously rub against the eye. It causes irritation to the eye and can sometimes damage the cornea.

Either of these two eyelid problems can trigger watery eyes.

4. Pinkeye

Pink eye is also known as conjunctivitis which is a kind of eye inflammation. A watery eye is a common symptom of conjunctivitis. Other symptoms include excessive mucus in the eye, reddening of the inner eyelids and blurry vision. Viruses like common colds are usually the main cause of most cases of pink eye. It can take multiple days up to weeks for the condition to be resolved.

5. Allergies

Almost 20% of the population or approximately 4.1 million Australians have at least one type of allergy. Exposure to potential allergens like pollen, dust, fumes, certain animals and others can trigger some symptoms. Excessive tearing of the eyes is one of the many common allergic reactions. Aside from that, allergies can also cause redness, swelling and irritation in the eyes.

6. Styes

These red painful lumps along the eyelid can also cause eyes to water too much. Styes are usually caused by bacteria and naturally disappear after a day or two as long as you leave it alone. Applying a warm compress on the eye can help ease the pain away.

7. Bell’s Palsy

This condition can cause facial muscles to weaken or be paralyzed due to some nerve damage. It also causes the face to droop or become stiff on the affected side. Bell’s palsy can also affect the eyes in the form of, excessive tearing, dry eye disease or the inability to close one’s eye.

8. Sjogren’s Syndrome

This autoimmune disease occurs when the usually protective immune system attacks e person’s body by mistake. Sjogren’s syndrome particularly attacks the glands responsible for producing tears and saliva. This results to dry mouth, dry eyes or extremely watery eyes.

9. Medications

Some medications can also cause watery eyes as a side effect. Among these medications are chemotherapy drugs, epinephrine, echothiophate iodide and pilocarpine.

10. Other Potential Causes

Weather conditions like winter, strong wind, too much sunshine or dusty weather can also trigger the eyes to produce more tears. Too much eye strain, from work, for example, can also cause the eyes to tear up too much. Other environmental factors like bright light, smog, airconditioning and exposure to foreign objects such as chemicals, gases or liquid can cause eye irritation which will then lead to watery eyes.

Looking for makeup or skincare products for sensitive eyes? Read these reviews of Eyes Are The Story for sensitive, watery or dry eyes.

When Should You See the Doctor

Watery eyes are typically temporary and get better on their own or when the cause is treated. However, it is best to consult an eye specialist if the condition persists and if you experience any of the following.

• Red excessive watery eyes that are also producing discharge
• Painful watery eyes
• Watery eyes partnered with sore sinuses
• Vision disturbances os loss
• Watery eyes accompanied by severe headache
• Bruising around the eyes
• Exposure to chemicals

Diagnosing the symptoms and cause of your watery eyes can also determine the best treatment for your specific condition.

Diagnosis

In the case that watery eyes fail to clear up on its own, your eye care doctor will perform a physical and eye exam to properly diagnose your condition. Your doctor will also perform tests on your tears checking their quality and quantity.

The eye care specialist will typically ask about any recent eye injuries or health conditions or medication intake. It is important to answer your doctor as accurately as possible.

After the diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe medications to help with your watery eyes or suggest other treatments to deal with the root cause.

Treatment for Watery Eyes

The treatment for watery eyes depends on its root cause and how severe the case is.

In some cases, eye doctors may recommend to just wait it out and monitor how it progresses. On other cases, they may recommend one of the following treatments and remedies.

• Prescription eye drops.
• Medication for allergies.
• Antibiotics for eye infection.
• Warm compress with a wet towel or washcloth to treat clogged tear ducts.
• Removal of an inward-growing eyelash or any foreign object that lodge in the eyes.
• Surgery to correct eyelid placement due to ectropion or entropion.
• Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) or a surgery that creates a new drainage system for the tears to bypass the blocked part of a tear duct.
• Other options for specific causes like dry eye treatments.

Watery eyes may seem like a simple condition that does not require that much attention, but for some, it can get really irritating especially if it develops to be a chronic problem.

Consult an eye specialist if your watery eyes don’t get better after a few days, especially if you’re experiencing other symptoms. Find the nearest eye clinic near you today.

What Causes Dry Eyes and 12 Ways to Treat Them

What are dry eyes and dry eye syndrome?

Dry eyes are a chronic lack of lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. An adequate and consistent layer of tears on the surface of the eye is essential to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable, and seeing well. 

Tears bathe the eye’s surface to keep it moist and wash away dust, debris and microorganisms that could damage the cornea and lead to an eye infection.

A normal tear film consists of three important components:

1. An oily (lipid) component produced by meibomian glands in the eyelids

2. A watery (aqueous) component produced by lacrimal glands located behind the outer aspect of the upper eyelids.

3. A mucous-like (mucin) component produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva that covers the white of the eye (sclera).

Each component of the tear film serves a critical purpose. For example, tear lipids help keep the tear film from evaporating too quickly and increase lubrication. Mucin helps anchor and spread the tears across the surface of the eye.

Dry eyes can become red and irritated, causing a feeling of scratchiness.

The results of dry eyes range from subtle but constant eye irritation to significant inflammation. It may even lead to scarring of the front surface of the eye.

In addition to being called dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease or simply “dry eye,” alternative medical terms used to describe dry eyes include:

• Keratitis sicca. Generally used to describe dryness and inflammation of the cornea.

• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Used to describe dry eye that affects both the cornea and the conjunctiva.

• Dysfunctional tear syndrome. Used to emphasize that poor quality of tears can be just as important as low quantity.

What causes dry eyes?

There are many potential causes of dry eyes:

• Computer use – When working at a computer or using a smartphone or other portable digital device, we tend to blink our eyes less fully and less frequently. This leads to greater tear evaporation and increased risk of dry eye symptoms.

• Contact lenses – It can be difficult to determine how much worse contact lenses can make dry eye problems. But dry eyes are a primary reason why people stop wearing contacts.

• Aging – Dry eye syndrome can occur at any age, but it becomes more common as you age, especially after age 50.

• Menopause – Post-menopausal women are at greater risk of dry eyes than men of the same age.

• Indoor environment – Air conditioning, ceiling fans and forced air heating systems all can decrease indoor humidity. This can hasten tear evaporation, causing dry eye symptoms.

• Outdoor environment – Dry climates, high altitudes and dry or windy conditions increase dry eye risks.

• Air travel – The air in the cabins of airplanes is extremely dry and can lead to dry eye problems, especially among frequent flyers.

• Smoking – In addition to dry eyes, smoking has been linked to serious eye problems, including macular degeneration, cataracts and uveitis.

• Health conditions – Certain diseases such as diabetes, thyroid-associated conditions, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome can contribute to dry eye problems.

• Medications – Many prescription and nonprescription medicines increase the risk of dry eye symptoms, including antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers or diuretics and birth control pills. 

• Eyelid problems – Incomplete closure of the eyelids when blinking or sleeping (called lagophthalmos) can cause severe dry eyes. Severe dryness can lead to a corneal ulcer if left untreated. Lagophthalmos has many causes, including natural aging, eye infections and nerve damage from trauma or cosmetic blepharoplasty. 

• LASIK – LASIK and other corneal refractive surgery can sometimes cause dry eyes. In most cases, however, dry eye discomfort after LASIK is temporary and resolves within a few weeks of the procedure. If you have dry eyes prior to LASIK, your eye doctor may recommend dry eye treatment before your procedure to insure your best LASIK results.

• Wearing a mask – Many masks, such as those worn to protect against the spread of COVID-19, can dry the eyes by forcing air out the top of the mask and over the surface of the eye. Wearing glasses with a mask can direct the air over the eyes even more.

• Allergies – Allergies can cause dry eyes, and as noted above, taking antihistamines to relieve allergies can also cause dry eyes.

Dry eye symptoms

Symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye syndrome include:

And as odd as it may sound, watery eyes also can be a symptom of dry eye syndrome.

This is because dryness on the eye’s surface can sometimes lead to overproduction of the watery part of your tears as a protective mechanism. But this “reflex tearing” does not stay on the eye long enough to correct the underlying dry eye condition.

In addition to these symptoms, dry eyes can cause inflammation and (sometimes permanent) damage to the surface of the eye.

Dry eye syndrome also can affect the outcomes of LASIK and cataract surgery.

Dry eye categories

There are different categories of dry eyes, depending on which component is affected.

For example, if the meibomian glands don’t produce enough oil, the tear film may evaporate too quickly. This is a condition called “evaporative dry eye.” The underlying condition, called meibomian gland dysfunction, is now known to be a factor in many cases of dry eye syndrome.

In other cases, the main cause of dry eye is a failure of the lacrimal glands to produce enough watery fluid to keep the eyes adequately moistened. This condition is called “aqueous deficiency dry eye.”

The specific type of dry eye often will determine the type of treatment your eye doctor recommends to give you relief from your dry eye symptoms.

Dry eye treatment and prevention

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic and typically progressive condition. Depending on its cause and severity, it may not be completely curable.

But in most cases, dry eyes can be managed successfully. Treatment usually results in greater comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms and, sometimes, sharper vision.

Dry eye disease can have a number of causes, and a variety of treatments are used.

Some optometrists and ophthalmologists may have you complete a questionnaire about your symptoms prior to initiating dry eye treatment. Your answers to this survey are then used as a baseline, and the questionnaire may be administered again after several weeks of treatment to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Successful treatment of dry eyes requires that you are willing to follow your eye doctor’s recommendations and that you use the products he or she recommends consistently.

The following is a list of dry eye treatments that are commonly used by eye doctors to reduce the signs and symptoms of dry eyes. Your eye doctor may recommend only one of these dry eye treatments or a combination of treatments, depending on the cause(s) and severity of your condition.

Eye drops for dry eyes

1. Artificial tears eye drops

For mild cases of dry eyes caused by computer use, reading, schoolwork and other situational causes, the best dry eye treatment may simply be frequent use of artificial tears or other lubricating eye drops.

Artificial tears usually are the first step in dry eye treatment.

There are many brands of artificial tears that are available without a prescription. The challenge with using artificial tears is not lack of product availability – it’s the confusing number of brands and formulations available to choose from.

Artificial tears and other over-the-counter (OTC) lubricating eye drops are available in a wide variety of ingredients and viscosity (“thickness”).

Artificial tears with low viscosity are “thin” and watery. They often provide quick relief with little or no blurring of your vision when you apply them. But often their soothing effect is very short-lived, and sometimes you must use these drops very frequently to get adequate dry eye relief.

Artificial tears that have a high viscosity are more gel-like and can provide longer-lasting lubrication. But typically these drops cause significant blurring of your vision for several minutes immediately after you apply them. For this reason, these drops often are not a good choice for use during your work day or when you need immediate clear vision for tasks such as driving. Sometimes high-viscosity artificial tears are recommended for bedtime use only.

Also, the ingredients in certain brands of artificial tears may determine which type of dry eye condition they are better suited for. For example, one brand might work better if you don’t produce enough natural tears (aqueous-deficiency dry eye), while another brand may be more effective if your natural tears evaporate too quickly (evaporative dry eye).

If your eye doctor recommends that you use one or more brands or formulations of artificial tears, be sure to follow the directions he or she gives you concerning when and how often you use them. Also, do not substitute other brands from those your eye doctor recommends. Using a different brand or multiple brands of artificial tears will make it difficult to assess the success of the dry eye treatment your doctor recommended.

2. Restasis

Instead of OTC artificial tears (or in addition to them), your eye doctor might recommend daily use of a prescription eye drop called Restasis (Allergan) for your dry eye treatment.

Restasis does more than simply lubricate the surface of your eye. It includes an agent that reduces inflammation associated with dry eye syndrome and helps your body produce more natural tears to keep your eyes moist, comfortable and healthy.

It’s important to know, however, that the therapeutic effect of Restasis is not immediate. You must use the drops daily for a minimum of 90 days to experience the full benefits of this dry eye treatment.

Some people who try Restasis will experience burning eyes early during the first few weeks of treatment.

3. Xiidra

Xiidra (ZYE-druh) is another prescription eye drop for dry eye treatment.

Xiidra (Shire), like Restasis, is aimed at reducing inflammation associated with the signs and symptoms of dry eyes.

The safety and efficacy of Xiidra was studied in four placebo-controlled, 12-week clinical trials that included 1,181 people with dry eyes. Participants were evaluated for dry eye signs and symptoms just prior to starting use of the drops, then after two weeks, six weeks and 12 weeks of Xiidra use.

In two of the four studies, participants noticed a significant reduction in dry eye symptoms after using Xiidra for two weeks. In all four studies, participants noticed a larger reduction in dryness symptoms after six weeks and 12 weeks of Xiidra use.

Also, at 12 weeks, a statistically significant reduction in signs of dry eyes was found among Xiidra users compared with participants given a placebo in two of the four studies.

The most common side effects of Xiidra reported in the studies were eye irritation, altered taste sensation and reduced visual acuity, which occurred in 5% to 25% of participants.

The recommended dosage for Xiidra, like Restasis, is two applications in each eye per day, approximately 12 hours apart.

4. Steroid eye drops

Over the past several years, inflammation has been recognized as a significant cause of dry eyes. Inflammation frequently causes the redness and burning associated with dry eye disease.

Artificial tears usually do not adequately address these inflammatory changes, and your doctor may recommend steroid eye drops to better manage the underlying inflammation associated with dry eyes.

Steroid eye drops generally are used short-term to quickly manage symptoms. They often are used in conjunction with artificial tears and Restasis or Xiidra, as a complement to these more long-term dry eye treatment strategies.

Steroid eye drops (especially if used for relatively long periods) have the potential of causing side effects. So, it’s important to make your eye doctor aware of your full medical history before starting steroid eye drops.

For example, steroid eye drops can increase the risk of developing high eye pressure or even cataracts if used for extended periods of time. But these risks are low when the drops are used only on a short-term basis for dry eye treatment.

5. Lacrisert

Lacrisert (Bausch + Lomb) is a sterile, slow-release lubricant that is placed under the lower eyelid where the conjunctiva of the inside of the eyelid meets the conjunctiva of the eyeball.

It is a solid insert composed of a preservative-free lubricating agent (hydroxypropyl cellulose) that slowly liquefies over time, providing an all-day moistening effect.

For most people with dry eyes, a single Lacrisert is applied once a day. The device has been proven to relieve dryness, burning, watery eyes, foreign body sensation, itching, light sensitivity and blurred vision, according to the company.

Lacrisert typically is recommended for patients with moderate to severe dry eye symptoms, especially if dry eye treatment with artificial tears alone proves unsuccessful.

If placed under the eyelid improperly, it’s possible Lacrisert can cause a corneal abrasion. Also, Lacrisert may cause transient blurred vision, eye discomfort or irritation, matting or stickiness of eyelashes, red eyes and sensitivity to light.

Other dry eye treatments

6. Punctal plugs

Punctal plugs sometimes are used in dry eye treatment to help tears remain on the surface of the eye longer.

A punctal plug inserted in the tear duct of the lower eyelid to keep the eye’s tear film from draining away too quickly. Image: Oasis Medical, Inc.

A punctal plug is a small, sterile device that is inserted into one of the small openings (puncta) of tear drainage ducts that are located in the inner corner of the upper and lower eyelids.

After these openings have been plugged, tears can no longer drain away from the eye through the ducts. This results in the tear film remaining intact longer on the surface of the eye, relieving dry eye symptoms.

So where do the tears go? Usually they will simply evaporate from the eye surface without symptoms. But if insertion of punctal plugs causes watery eyes, one or more of the plugs can be removed.

7. Meibomian gland expression

A very significant percentage of dry eye cases are caused by inadequate oil (meibum) being secreted from meibomian glands located along the margin of the eyelids.

The openings of these glands are near the base of the eyelashes. If these openings get clogged, the oil that’s critical to keeping the tear film from evaporating too quickly cannot do its job. This is called meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which is a significant cause of evaporative dry eye symptoms.

To treat meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye, your eye doctor may perform an in-office procedure called meibomian gland expression. In this procedure, warm compresses may or may not first be applied to your eyelids; then a forceps-type device is used to squeeze the clogged contents (hardened meibum and possibly other substances) from the meibomian glands.

To fully express the contents of the meibomian glands and get them functioning properly, significant pressure must be applied to the eyelids, which can be uncomfortable. But the results usually make any short-term discomfort from the procedure worth it.

8. Warm compresses

An alternative (and potentially more comfortable) way to help open clogged meibomian glands to treat dry eyes is to simply apply warm compresses to the closed eyelids to soften the hardened meibum.

Unfortunately, for warm compresses to work well, some researchers say you have to use a compress that can maintain a temperature of 108 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 10 minutes, and the compresses have to be applied for this length of time at least twice a day.

Most people are unable or unwilling to perform this type of dry eye treatment correctly, and shorter and less frequent use of variable-temperature warm compresses typically is ineffective.

9. LipiFlow

The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System (TearScience) is an automated, in-office dry eye treatment that combines the best features of warm compress therapy and meibomian gland expression.

The patented device fits over the eyelids and applies precisely controlled heat to the lids to soften hardened meibum trapped in the meibomian glands. At the same time, the LipiFlow system applies pulsed pressure to the eyelids to open and express the clogged glands, thereby restoring the correct balance of oils in the tear film to relieve dry eye syndrome.

Lipiflow treatment takes approximately 12 minutes per eye. In a clinical study of the effectiveness of the procedure, 76% of patients reported improvement of their dry eye symptoms within two weeks of treatment. Most patients also showed improvement in the quality and quantity of meibomian gland secretions and the duration of time their tear film remained on the eye before evaporating.

In some cases, however, it can take a few months for improvements from the LipiFlow procedure to become apparent.

Typically, the beneficial effects of the LipiFlow procedure last one to three years or longer.

Potential side effects from LipiFlow dry eye treatment include corneal abrasion, eye pain, swollen eyelids, eyelid irritation or inflammation, chalazia, transient blurred vision, itching and red eyes.

LipiFlow dry eye treatment typically is not covered by health insurance. Fees for the procedure can vary from one practitioner to another and average about $900 per session.

10. Intense pulsed light

Intense pulsed light (IPL) has long been used to treat rosacea on the skin. Rosacea on the skin and eyelid often occur together.

Ocular rosacea is characterized by dilated blood vessels coursing along the eyelash margin in patients suffering from blepharitis and may contribute to dry eye symptoms.

In IPL treatment, a hand-held device flashes bright light onto the skin. The light is filtered to allow only wavelengths that can be absorbed by the dilated blood vessels. The effect of this treatment may be the resolution of the dilated vessels and associated inflammation that contributes to dry eye symptoms.

Many patients experience relief from their dry eye symptoms after IPL and become less dependent on artificial tears and other routine measures to keep their eyes comfortable. For this reason, IPL treatment may be well-suited for dry eye patients who don’t want to be troubled by the inconvenience of frequent eye drop use.

Patients usually require four to six monthly IPL treatments for optimum effects. Typically, the treatments are well-tolerated and are not associated with any down-time. However, it’s important to discuss with your doctor how much time you spend in the sun, as the treatments will make your eyelids more light-sensitive.

IPL treatment generally is not covered by health insurance or vision insurance and it may not be appropriate for patients with certain skin pigmentations.

11. Nutritional supplements

Doctors sometimes recommend nutritional supplements as part of a holistic dry eye treatment plan.

Studies have found that supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids can help dry eyes. Good sources of omega-3s include cold-water fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and cod. For a vegetarian source of omega-3s, some eye doctors recommend flaxseed oil to relieve dry eye.

Also, simply drinking more water might help relieve dry eye symptoms. Mild dehydration often makes dry eye problems worse. This is especially true during hot, dry and windy weather.

12. Home remedies for dry eyes

If you have mild dry eye symptoms, there are several things you can try to get relief before going to the doctor:

Blink more often. Research has shown that people tend to blink much less frequently than normal when viewing a computer, smartphone or other digital display. This decreased blink rate can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms. Make a conscious effort to blink more often when using these devices. Also, perform full blinks, gently squeezing your eyelids together, to fully spread a fresh layer of tears over your eyes.

Wraparound-style eyewear with side shields can protect your eyes from moisture-robbing wind and irritating debris.

• Take frequent breaks during computer use. A good rule of thumb here is to look away from your screen at least every 20 minutes and look at something that is at least 20 feet from your eyes for at least 20 seconds. Eye doctors call this the “20-20-20 rule,” and abiding by it can help relieve dry eyes and computer eye strain. 

• Thoroughly remove eye makeup. Eyeliner and other eye makeup can clog the openings of the glands at the base of the eyelashes, leading to meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. At the end of the day, be diligent about removing all makeup from your eyelids and eyelashes.

• Clean your eyelids. When washing your face before bedtime, gently wash your eyelids to remove bacteria that can cause blepharitis and meibomian gland problems that lead to dry eye symptoms. Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your closed lids for at least 20 seconds. Then gently wash your lids and lashes with a mild cleanser, such as diluted baby shampoo or pre-moistened eyelid wipes sold in drugstores.

• Wear quality sunglasses. When outdoors in daylight hours, always wear sunglasses that block 100% of the sun’s UV rays. For the best protection, choose sunglasses that also feature a wrap-style frame to protect your eyes from wind, dust and other irritants that can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms.

• Use a humidifier. Dry air inside your home, particularly in dry climates, or in cold climates in winter, can contribute to making your eyes dry. Consider adding a humidifier to increase the relative humidity inside your home.

READ MORE about home remedies for dry eyes

Other dry eye treatment considerations

In addition to the dry eye treatments listed above, your eye doctor may recommend one or more of the following measures if any of the conditions below apply to you:

• Medication adjustment. Many medicines — including antihistamines, antidepressants, birth control pills, certain blood pressure medications and more — can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms. Even over-the-counter (nonprescription) medications for allergies and other conditions can cause dry eyes. Be sure to discuss all medications you are taking with your doctor if you are experiencing dry eye problems. However, never discontinue a prescription medication without first discussing it with your physician.

• Treating eyelid conditions. If you have blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction or other eyelid conditions, these often are associated with dry eye disease and should be addressed as part of your overall dry eye treatment regimen. For example, if you have blepharitis, your eye doctor may recommend use of an antibiotic and/or steroid ointment or eye drop in addition to daily eyelid cleansing with a non-irritating shampoo.

• Discontinuing or reducing contact lens wear. If you wear contact lenses, it can be difficult to tell if an underlying dry eye condition is causing contact lens discomfort or if your contact lenses are causing dry eye symptoms. If you wear contacts, it’s often best to discontinue wearing them (or perhaps switch to daily disposable contact lenses) while your dry eye treatment is in progress.

SEE RELATED: Best contacts for dry eyes

Prevalence of dry eye

Dry eye syndrome, also called dry eye disease (DED), is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide and a primary reason for visits to the eye doctor.

In a review published in the Journal of Global Health, researchers reported that studies have shown the prevalence of dry eyes ranges from 5 percent to as high as 50 percent in different populations across the world. (The researchers felt the large variation may be due to disparities in diagnostic criteria of different studies, unique characteristics of the investigated populations and other factors.)

Dry eye tests and diagnosis

The only way to know for sure if you’ve got chronic dry eye syndrome is to have your eye doctor perform one or more dry eye tests, such as the Schirmer’s test, during an eye exam.

Symptoms alone are poor signs of the presence and severity of dry eye disease. Symptoms can vary from person to person and may even be affected by personality type. Part of the testing focuses on the quality and quantity of tears your eyes can produce. Your doctor will also examine your eyelids, how you blink and how often you blink. The testing may also  involve dyes to help observe how and where your tears flow.

Some people with only mild dry eyes may feel their eyes are very bothersome, while others may have significant dry eye problems and not consider their symptoms bad enough to see an eye doctor (or they may not experience dry eye symptoms at all).

Only a careful examination of your eyes by an eye doctor can reveal the presence and severity of dry eye syndrome and help your doctor determine the best type of dry eye treatment to keep your eyes healthy, comfortable and seeing well.

Page published in February 2019

Page updated in September 2021

Dry eye | AOA

Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults. With each blink of the eyelids, tears spread across the front surface of the eye, known as the cornea. Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign matter in the eye and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. Excess tears in the eyes flow into small drainage ducts in the inner corners of the eyelids, which drain into the back of the nose. Dry eyes can occur when tear production and drainage is not in balance.

Causes & risk factors

Dry eyes can occur when tear production and drainage are not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are of a poor quality:

• Inadequate amount of tears. Tears are produced by several glands in and around the eyelids. Tear production tends to diminish with age, with various medical conditions or as a side effect of certain medicines. Environmental conditions, such as wind and dry climates, can also decrease tear volume due to increased tear evaporation. When the normal amount of tear production decreases or tears evaporate too quickly from the eyes, symptoms of dry eye can develop.
• Poor quality of tears. Tears are made up of three layers: oil, water, and mucus. Each component protects and nourishes the front surface of the eye. A smooth oil layer helps prevent evaporation of the water layer, while the mucin layer spreads the tears evenly over the surface of the eye. If the tears evaporate too quickly or do not spread evenly over the cornea due to deficiencies with any of the three tear layers, dry eye symptoms can develop.

Dry eyes can develop for many reasons, including:

• Age. Dry eyes are a part of the natural aging process. The majority of people over age 65 experience some symptoms of dry eyes.
• Gender. Women are more likely to develop dry eyes due to hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives and menopause.
• Medications. Certain medicines, including antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants, can reduce tear production.
• Medical conditions. People with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid problems are more likely to have symptoms of dry eyes. Also, problems with inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis), inflammation of the surfaces of the eye, or the inward or outward turning of eyelids can cause dry eyes to develop.
• Environmental conditions. Exposure to smoke, wind and dry climates can increase tear evaporation resulting in dry eye symptoms. Failure to blink regularly, such as when staring at a computer screen for long periods of time, can also contribute to drying of the eyes.
• Other factors. Long-term use of contact lenses can be a factor in the development of dry eyes. Refractive eye surgeries, such as LASIK, can decrease tear production and contribute to dry eyes.

Advanced dry eyes may damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision.

Symptoms

People with dry eyes may experience irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes; a feeling of something in their eyes; excess watering; and blurred vision. Symptoms include:

• Redness.
• stinging, scratching, or burning sensations.
• Light Sensitivity.
• Watery eyes.
• Stringy mucus near the eye.
• Blurry Vision.

Diagnosis

Dry eyes can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Testing with emphasis on the evaluation of the quantity and quality of tears produced by the eyes may include:

• Patient history to determine the patient’s symptoms and to note any general health problems, medications or environmental factors that may be contributing to the dry eye problem.
• External examination of the eye, including lid structure and blink dynamics.
• Evaluation of the eyelids and cornea using bright light and magnification.
• Measurement of the quantity and quality of tears for any abnormalities. Special dyes may be put in the eyes to better observe tear flow and to highlight any changes to the outer surface of the eye caused by insufficient tears.

With the information obtained from testing, a doctor of optometry can determine if you have dry eyes and advise you on treatment options.

Treatment

Treatments for dry eyes aim to restore or maintain the normal amount of tears in the eye to minimize dryness and related discomfort and to maintain eye health. Dry eyes can be a chronic condition, but a doctor of optometry can prescribe treatment to keep your eyes healthy and comfortable and to prevent your vision from being affected. The primary approaches used to manage and treat dry eyes include adding tears using over-the-counter artificial tear solutions, conserving tears, increasing tear production, and treating the inflammation of the eyelids or eye surface that contributes to the dry eyes.

• Adding tears. Mild cases of dry eyes can often be managed using over-the-counter artificial tear solutions. These can be used as often as needed to supplement natural tear production. Preservative-free artificial tear solutions are recommended because they contain fewer additives, which can further irritate the eyes. People with dry eyes that don’t respond to artificial tears alone will need to take additional steps to treat their dry eyes.
• Conserving tears. Keeping natural tears in the eyes longer can reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. This can be done by blocking the tear ducts through which the tears normally drain. The tear ducts can be blocked with tiny silicone or gel-like plugs that can be removed if needed. Or a surgical procedure can permanently close the tear ducts. In either case, the goal is to keep the available tears in the eye longer to reduce problems related to dry eyes.
• Increasing tear production. A doctor of optometry can prescribe eye drops that increase tear production. Taking an omega-3 fatty acid nutritional supplement may also help.
• Treating the contributing eyelid or ocular surface inflammation. A doctor of optometry might recommend prescription eye drops or ointments, warm compresses and lid massage, or eyelid cleaners to help decrease inflammation around the surface of the eyes.

Prevention

You can take the following steps to reduce symptoms of dry eyes:

• Remember to blink regularly when reading or staring at a computer screen for long periods of time.
• Increase the humidity in the air at work and at home.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors, particularly those with wraparound frames, to reduce exposure to drying winds and the sun.
• Nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids may help decrease dry eye symptoms in some people. Ask your doctor if taking dietary supplements could help your dry eye problems.
• Avoiding becoming dehydrated by drinking plenty of water (8 to 10 glasses) each day.
• Avoid air getting blown in your eyes by directing car heaters away from your face.
• Avoid environments that are drier than normal, such as deserts, airplanes, and places at high altitudes.

Find a Doctor of Optometry

(Dry Eyes & Watery Eyes) Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What kinds of problems do people get with their tears?

The tear system of the eye normally keeps the eye wet enough to be comfortable without overflowing. But some people’s eyes are too dry, while others are too wet.

Dry eye syndrome is what doctors call the condition when an eye is not being kept wet enough to be comfortable. There are several causes of dry eye syndrome, and more information is available in the “Dry Eye Syndrome” fact sheet from the Cole Eye Institute. Other times the tear system makes the eye too wet.

How can the tear system make the eye “too wet”?

There are three main parts in the tear system: (1) the glands that make the tear fluid; (2) the openings that let tears flow out of the eye; and (3) the ducts inside the nose that tears drain through. Each has a different function and a problem with any of them can lead to excess tears.

How do the tear glands normally work, and what problems can happen when they are not working properly?

The lacrimal glands underneath the skin of the upper eyelids make a fluid that is mostly salt and water. This salty water gets to the eye through small openings inside the upper eyelids. When the eyelid blinks, the watery liquid is spread across the eye. There are other glands on edges of the eyelids that make oils. The most important of these glands are called the meibomian glands.

The oils from these glands actually float on top of the watery fluid in the tears. This keeps the water from evaporating too quickly. Some of the oils stay along the edge of the eyelid, and they help keep the tears from “leaking” over the eyelashes. If there is not enough of these oils, tears will keep overflowing from the eyes. Oddly enough, a problem with the meibomian glands can lead to overflowing tears and dry eye syndrome at the same time!

This happens when the lacrimal glands make enough salt-watery fluid to cover the eye, but the meibomian glands do not make enough oils. The surface of the eye actually dries out between blinks. This makes the eye irritated, and the lacrimal glands make even more fluid. But this fluid just overflows from the eye instead of keeping it wet.

This is one form of epiphora, which is the medical term for the condition of overflowing tears. There are several other possible causes of epiphora. The lacrimal glands might be making too much fluid because the eye is irritated by wind, bright light, dust or allergies. The other causes of epiphora are related to problems with the drainage system of the eye.

How does the tear drainage system normally work, and what can go wrong with it?

There are small openings inside the edges of the eyelids near the nose. Each upper and lower eyelid has one of these openings, called a punctum. These four openings, or puncta, act like little valves to take tears out of the eye. Each time we blink, some tear fluid is pumped out of the eye through the puncta.

If some or all of the puncta are blocked, tears will overflow. The puncta are tiny, so they can be blocked by small particles of dirt or even loose cells from the skin around the eye. Sometimes an infection near the puncta will make the area swollen, and the puncta will not work properly. Any of these things can cause epiphora.

How do the tear drainage ducts normally work? What can go wrong with them?

After the tears leave the eye through the puncta, they drain down through a little “tube” called the nasolacrimal duct. This duct goes underneath the skin and through the bones of the face into the nose. Normally, there is so little tear fluid that the nose does not get very wet. The connection between the eye and the nose is obvious, however, when someone is crying.

Even when the puncta are open and working well, the nasolacrimal duct can be blocked. Not only will this cause problems with tear drainage, it usually has other symptoms too, including:

• Swelling and redness in the area between the eye and the nose.
• Pain in the area around the eye and nose.

If the nasolacrimal duct is blocked, it can become infected. This is called dacryocystitis, and it can become very uncomfortable.

How can excessive tearing be treated?

Only a doctor can recommend the right treatment for someone with tearing problems.
It is not unusual for newborn babies to have excessive tearing due to insufficient drainage of the tears. More information about this problem is available in the fact sheet on “Tear Duct Obstruction in Children” from the Cole Eye Institute.

In older patients with overflowing tears, the doctor will examine the eye carefully. If the tearing problem seems to be related to dry eye syndrome, there are several treatment options (see the “Dry Eye” fact sheet). If the problem is related to allergy or other irritation of the eye, then treating the irritation will reduce excessive tearing.

In other cases, it will be necessary to perform a special test to make sure fluid can pass through the puncta and nasolacrimal duct.

What if part of the tear drainage system is blocked?

If the test shows that tears cannot get through a punctum, the doctor might recommend placing a warm, wet, clean washcloth on the eye a few times a day. This could help open up the blocked punctum and let any fluid inside drain out. Your doctor will explain exactly how to do this and how many times a day it should be done. This can open the punctum in just a few days, or it might take longer.

Your doctor might recommend a procedure to open a blocked punctum. He or she can do this right in the office by numbing the eye with anesthetic, then passing a special instrument through the punctum. This might be necessary if the nasolacrimal duct seems to be infected. The doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics if there seems to be an infection.

Sometimes an infection will have the side effect of blocking the nasolacrimal duct permanently. This is a problem for two reasons. Not only will the eye keep overflowing with tears, the blocked nasolacrimal duct will keep on getting infected. Fortunately, there is a procedure to fix this problem.

Dacryocystorhinostomy is the complicated medical name for an operation to make a new tear drainage system for the eye.

This operation may be done under general anesthesia (with the patient “asleep”) or with local anesthesia (the patient is awake but does not feel the pain). The surgeon will make an incision near the nose. A small plastic tube is connected to the tear duct near the eye, and the other end opens into the nose. The plastic device keeps the new drainage system open while the eye heals. After a few months, the tube is removed. This technique is very effective at solving the problem of overflowing tears due to nasolacrimal duct blockage.

Did You Know That Watery Eyes Are Actually Caused By Dry Eyes?: Classic Vision Care: Optometry

Understanding what causes issues with our eyes is important so that we can take immediate steps to avoid or correct the problem. After all, if we are experiencing uncomfortable issues with our eyesight, it will make it almost impossible to live normally in our day-to-day lives. The simplest tasks become almost impossible, and we deal with pain, discomfort, and fear. It can be really scary to lose our ability to see properly, even if just temporarily.

If you have been dealing with watery eyes, it is important to know that this condition is actually caused by dry eyes! Watery eye condition is known formally as epiphora, and although it is annoying and even concerning, it is actually rarely serious. Your eyes are really just producing an overabundance of tears.

Our eyes produce their tears through glands known as Meibomian Glands, and these tears are a mixture of fats, mucous, and water. When these glands don’t function correctly our eyes will become dry, due to a lack of tears or evaporation. This will then trigger an overabundance of tears, and you end up with watery eyes!

Dry eyes can be caused due to undergoing Lasik Surgery, or if you have a medical condition. Undergoing chemotherapy can also create dry eyes, as well. Contact lens wearers know they are often candidates for this uncomfortable condition.

Some symptoms of dry eye will include gritty eyes – that feeling that something foreign is in your eye, stinging or burning, heavy eyelids or blurred vision, and of course, watery eyes.

Things you can do to prevent dry eyes in the first place:

• Keep your eyes clean, avoiding the use of makeup and especially eyeliner
• Avoid high temperatures, central heating, the air from vents in cars, and air conditioning
• Blink often and look away from your computer screen at regular intervals to give your eyes a rest
• Use a humidifier to slow down tear evaporation
• Wear glasses/sunglasses on windy days – the wraparound style works best
• Avoid smoky environments
• You may need help from your eye doctor. He or she can install small plugs (punctum plugs) in the tear ducts of your lower eyes to keep your tears from draining away. These can easily be removed whenever it becomes necessary.

You should always see your eye doctor or ophthalmologist to evaluate your condition if you are suffering from the symptoms of watery or dry eyes.

Here at Classic Vision Care, we are committed to alleviating any issues you may be experiencing with your eyes and your vision. If you are suffering from discomfort and concerns, call us right away for an evaluation. We know that eye pain and strain will affect your daily life, and we are here to help.

90,000 why it occurs, treatment, medications and photos

If your eyes get tired, itchy or watery, and by the evening reading becomes completely impossible, you may have a dry eye syndrome. It is not worth putting up with it: in the long term, this unpleasant condition leads to constant irritation and even the appearance of scars on the cornea.

This is a fairly common eye problem. Many patients turn to the Clinic for Laser Eye Microsurgery on Maerchak with the question of how to treat dry eye syndrome.

The condition is dangerous because it makes the cornea prone to infections and inflammation, reduces visual acuity. The increased dryness of the surface of the eyeball interferes with laser vision correction and treatment.

Symptoms

The following symptoms indicate a possible dry eye syndrome:

• burning, itching in the eyes,
• fatigue,
• eye pain,
• ripple,
• corneal dry feeling,
• increased sensitivity to light,
• blurry vision,
• sensation of sand in the eyes, the presence of a foreign body,
• redness of the eyeballs.

Oddly enough, tearing is also a symptom of the syndrome. The fact is that the violation of the integrity of the tear film includes a compensation mechanism – more tears are produced, which, however, cannot restore the normal protective coating.

Reasons

The tear film washes the eye, moisturizes its surface, removes dirt, microorganisms and dead cells. Normally, it consists of three layers:

• Mucin component produced by cells of the conjunctiva.Thanks to this layer, the tear film is evenly distributed over the anterior surface of the eyeball and adheres to it.
• The watery layer is a product of the lacrimal glands. It provides the cells of the cornea with nutrients.
• Lipid component that covers the aqueous layer and protects it from evaporation. This fluid is produced by the meibomian glands.

Problems in any of these layers rupture the tear film and can trigger the syndrome.

Two main causes of the pathological condition:

1. violation of the ratio of components, which leads to rapid evaporation of the film;
2. insufficient secretion of tears.

Risk factors

• Gadgets and Monitors. In front of the monitor, we blink less often, so the tear film evaporates too quickly and does not have time to renew.
• Driving, long-term concentration on something also reduces the frequency of blinking.
• Contact lenses. You can cope with this with the help of special contact lenses.
• Age. The syndrome is typical for people over 50 years old, in whom tear production decreases.
• Menopause. Hormonal changes affect the production of fluids that wash around the eyeball.
• Air conditioners, heaters reduce air humidity, the eye surface becomes dry faster. For the same reason, frequent flyers suffer from dry eye syndrome.
• Smoking.
• Systemic diseases: diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis.
• Medicines: antihistamines, antihypertensive drugs, birth control pills, antidepressants.
• Eyelid problems such as blepharitis, which blocks the meibomian glands, interfering with mucin production.
• Dry eye syndrome is associated with some operations, for example, blepharoplasty, refractive surgery.But in this case, the discomfort usually goes away on its own.

Diagnostics

Before you run to the pharmacy and buy drugs for the treatment of dry eye syndrome, it is important to understand the cause of the discomfort, that is, to be examined by an ophthalmologist. In addition to examining and interviewing the patient, the doctor analyzes tear production using special tests.

Depending on the cause, the intensity of the symptoms, the treatment of dry eye syndrome goes in three directions:

• Increase the secretion of natural tears;
• Moisten the ocular surface with artificial tears;
• Slow down the evaporation of the tear film.

If an infectious disease is at the heart of a dry eye, treatment begins with it.

Ophthalmologists of our Clinic are attentive to the health of patients, therefore they tell everyone how to increase tear production and restore the natural tear film. If non-drug methods are ineffective, the ophthalmologist selects drops.

In severe cases, the lacrimal canals are blocked with silicone plugs, which retain fluid on the cornea.

Prevention

For those who want to maintain healthy vision and avoid the unpleasant symptoms of “dry eye”, our ophthalmologists advise to adhere to simple rules:

• Gently cleanse the eyelids to prevent inflammation.
• Gently massage the eyelids with clean fingers – this removes excess secretions from the glands.
• Include foods rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet.
• Try to spend less time in front of the monitor, periodically distract yourself and do exercises for the eyes.
• Come to an ophthalmologist for a routine examination every year. If you feel discomfort in your eyes, see your doctor immediately. At an early stage, the tear film can be stabilized without medication or surgery.

90,000 Health Problems: Watery Eyes

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common causes of watery eyes. This is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane of the eye). In such cases, in addition to watery eyes, one of the common symptoms is severe redness.Doctors distinguish infectious and non-infectious varieties. Infectious conjunctivitis is caused by viruses or bacteria, and noninfectious conjunctivitis is caused by allergies, irritation from very bright light, foreign particles, or chemicals. In both cases, you urgently need to contact an ophthalmologist and tell him about your symptoms. If the disease is infectious, you will be quickly prescribed treatment.

Antibiotics will help to cope with bacterial infectious diseases.In other cases, it is usually sufficient to eliminate the relevant factors. Additional advice: you need to use handkerchiefs to dry your eyes. You should also wash your hands regularly. This will avoid getting an infection. What’s more, infected people should avoid using contact lenses by wearing glasses instead.

Another common cause of watery eyes is an improperly corrected vision problem that puts more strain on the eyes so you can see well.This task is perfectly handled by the optimal individually fitted spectacle lenses, such as progressive lenses from ZEISS Individual 2. Eyes may watery due to the wrong composition of the tear fluid. In addition to a lot of water, our tears also contain proteins and a protective lipid layer on the top layer of the tear film. As a result, the tear film is incorrectly positioned on the surface of the eye and goes down. In such cases, your ophthalmologist may recommend special drops.

Other potential causes of watery eyes are trauma to the surface of the cornea due to foreign particles or scratches. Subconsciously, the body begins to produce more tears. Some people may also have misplaced eyelids. Experts call this condition entropion when the eyelid is rolled down, or ectropion when it is rolled up. Corrective surgery may be required depending on the severity of the problem.

90,000 causes and treatment.Consultation with an ophthalmologist at the MEDSI

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Dry eye syndrome (DRS) is a common problem, especially among those who spend a lot of time at the computer. According to Russian researchers, more than 10% of patients under the age of 40 and almost 70% of patients over 50 suffer from DES. Its reasons can be different: climate, computer, air conditioning and even cigarette smoke …

Correct tears

In order for the human eye to function fully, its surface must be constantly moistened.To do this, the lacrimal glands produce a tear film. It protects the eyeball from drying out and the penetration of pathogenic microbes, nourishes it, and lubricates the eyelid when blinking. When a person blinks, the film is evenly distributed over the surface of the eye.

If, for any reason, the glands stop producing the required amount of tear fluid or its quality is impaired, the film begins to dry out. Or moisture can rapidly evaporate from the surface of the eye due to the nature of the environment.The result is dry eye syndrome.

Who is to blame?

In most cases, a person does not think about any STD. Feeling discomfort in his eyes, he finds a lot of explanations for this: he didn’t get enough sleep, he was tired … Meanwhile, the process is developing.

A variety of factors can cause dry eye syndrome. First of all, these are:

• Climatic conditions (dry, heat, strong wind, highlands)
• Smoke (including tobacco), smog, polluted atmosphere
• Dry air in the room where computers are working, air conditioners or heaters are on
• Working at the computer, watching TV
• Wearing contact lenses
• Long-term use of certain drugs (antidepressants, tranquilizers, hormonal contraceptives and drugs that lower blood pressure)
• Vitamin deficiency (especially after restrictive diets)
• General diseases of the body (Parkinson’s and Sjogren’s diseases, diabetes, thyroid problems, hormonal changes, rheumatic processes, allergic diseases)

A small speck and a big problem

One of the first manifestations of DES is the sensation of a speck in the eye.Then there is a burning sensation, itching, increased sensitivity to smoke, wind. There is a feeling as if “sand was poured into the eyes.” The eyelids become red and swollen. Photophobia is added.

In some cases, DES may be accompanied by lacrimation. By producing more tears, the body tries to fight the problem. However, the lubricating properties of such “tears” are insufficient. They do not eliminate dryness and irritation.

A person constantly has a desire to rub his eye, but this only worsens the condition.A little relief comes if you blink or close your eyes often.

After sitting in front of a computer or TV for a long time, while reading, in a room with an air conditioner or heater in operation, the unpleasant sensations intensify.

Diagnostics

A simple but sure way to diagnose dry eye syndrome is the Schirmer test. It is carried out as follows. A thin strip of filter paper is inserted behind the lower eyelid. It gradually becomes saturated with tear fluid.The rate of paper wetting is used to judge the severity of DES.

Another diagnostic method is a slit-lamp examination of the eye (biomicroscopy) using a special coloring agent (fluorescein). With pathological dryness of the eye, tears become visible in the thickness of the tear film. This indicates a deterioration in the quality of the tear fluid and confirms the diagnosis.

Drops, Gel or Stopper?

Treatment of dry eye syndrome is a lengthy and highly individual process.First of all, you need to find out why there was dry eye. If DES is a consequence of any disease, treatment should be carried out in parallel.

If your own tear is not enough to moisturize, or its quality has deteriorated, and it cannot protect the eye from adverse effects, replacement therapy is performed. The doctor prescribes drops for dry eyes, which are similar in composition to lacrimal fluid.

In the treatment of DES, drugs in the form of artificial tears are widely used, which create a protective film on the surface of the eye.Some of them are liquid and do not last long. Others are thicker, in the form of gels, so they stay on the surface of the eye longer. The frequency of instillation is determined individually.

It is best to use preservative-free artificial tears as it soothes the eyes better and contains fewer additional ingredients.

Drops that relieve eye redness are not used. They constrict the conjunctival vessels, do not have sufficient wetting properties and only exacerbate the problem.

There is another way to treat it. The opening of the lacrimal canaliculus is closed with a special plastic stopper. This reduces the loss of tear fluid by reducing natural drainage. The plug is placed temporarily (if it is made of absorbable collagen) or for permanent wear (if it is made of silicone).

Simple but effective

Here are some simple tips to help you manage dry eye:

• Consume 8-10 glasses of liquid daily.This will provide the body with the necessary amount of moisture and accelerate the elimination of toxins
• Blink more often, especially when reading or watching TV
• Do not rub your eyes – this will increase irritation
• Keep your workplace, be it an office or home office, clean
• Take a break from work every 40-45 minutes. Don’t forget about eye and neck gymnastics
• You can wash your eyes with an infusion of chamomile, calendula and tea, if you are not allergic to these components
• Include vegetable oils and sea buckthorn in your diet
• Protect your eyes from the sun with sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and baseball caps

Dry eye can lead to serious vision problems.Therefore, it must be identified and cured in time. And the best thing is to prevent the occurrence of the JIT at all.

90,000 Watery eyes. Why, what are the reasons? What to do? How to treat

Watery eyes or watery eyes – a condition when a tear accumulates in the conjunctival cavity and flows over the edge of the eyelid. As a result, the skin of the eyelids is irritated, reddened, and macerated. Constantly flowing tears are unpleasant and annoying.

Why are eyes watery and what to do?

The eyes water only for three reasons:
A. The lacrimal glands produce excess tear fluid .
B. Violation of the lacrimal duct .
S. Violation of the composition of tears .

A tear is essential for permanent hydration of the cornea. With a lack of tears, the cornea dries up, becomes cloudy and the person loses sight. This condition is called corneal xerosis. Therefore, to maintain good vision, the release of tears is necessary.

Interestingly, per day produces about 250 ml of tear fluid in each eye.The same amount of tears is diverted from the eye along the lacrimal ducts, which include the lacrimal canal, the lacrimal sac and the nasolacrimal canal.

Each human eye has a lacrimal gland, which is located in the upper-outer part of the eye and 18-20 small additional lacrimal glands in the transitional conjunctival fold of the upper eyelid, at the top of the eyelid on the inner side.

Under normal conditions, only the additional lacrimal glands constantly function and secrete a tear. This tear is enough for a person to moisturize the cornea.
The main lacrimal gland is included in the work when the cornea dries up, it is irritated by a foreign object, or during psychological (neurological) irritation.

Eyes are tearing, what are the reasons?

A. Causes causing hypersecretion of the lacrimal glands:
1. “Dry eye syndrome”
2. Dry air
3. Foreign body in the cornea or conjunctiva
4. Chemical irritation of the cornea
5.Inflammatory process in the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) 90 230
6. Inflammatory process of the eyelids (blepharitis)
7. Irritation of the nerves innervating the lacrimal glands, a neurological cause of lacrimation
8. Violation of the psychosomatic state

B. The reasons causing the violation of the outflow of tears:
1. Atony (flabbiness) of the lower eyelid
2. Blockage of the tear duct
3. Inflammatory process in the lacrimal duct
4.Narrowing of the lacrimal passages
5. Inversion or eversion of the lacrimal openings.
6. Compression of the lacrimal tubules by edema of the eyelids

C. Causes leading to a violation of the composition of the tear:
1. Meibomitis – inflammation of the meibomian glands

A. Causes causing hypersecretion of the lacrimal glands:

1 . Dry eye syndrome.
Paradoxically, it is the “dry eye syndrome” that is one of the two most important causes of lacrimation.It would seem that a “dry eye” requires moisture and cannot be the cause of excess tears. But it is the drying of the cornea that triggers the hypersecretion of the lacrimal gland, which produces a larger volume of tears than the lacrimal ducts can divert.
Treatment : Artificial tear drops, which restore the tear film and, most importantly, its normal composition, will help get rid of lacrimation in this case. Massage of the meibomian glands is also recommended to restore their normal functioning.Dysfunction of the meibomian glands leads to a violation of the composition of the tears and, as a result, to the “dry eye syndrome”. It is also necessary to humidify the air in the room, especially in winter. The relative power of the air for the normal functioning of the lacrimal organs must be more than 50%.

2 . Dry indoor or outdoor air will dry out tears and dry the cornea. This effect is especially pronounced in countries with hot climatic conditions, accompanied by persistent winds.The mechanism of additional production of tears is triggered, which is produced in excess, and lacrimation occurs.
It should be noted that frosty air is much drier than warm air in terms of its physical characteristics. Therefore, on the street in the frost, accompanied by the wind, tears dry quickly and, as a result, an additional increased release of tears by the lacrimal gland, from which the eyes are very watery.
Treatment : maintain the relative humidity in the room above 50%, avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoors in conditions of too dry warm or frosty air accompanied by strong winds.

3 . A foreign body in the cornea or conjunctival cavity , most often the eyelash, leads to disruption of the corneal epithelium, causing the “corneal” syndrome, which is always accompanied by redness and watery eyes.
Treatment : It is necessary to remove the foreign body and use means that improve the regeneration of the cornea for its early restoration: eye drops or Corneregel gel, Solcoseryl eye ointment, Citral eye drops 2-3 times a day.After the restoration of the cornea, lacrimation will stop. Along with drugs that improve regeneration, it is recommended to use eye drops for the prevention of secondary infection, such as: “tobrex”, “albucid 20%”, “chloramphenicol” – 1 drop 3 times a day.

4 . Chemical irritation of the cornea by substances in the air leads to a reflex increase in lacrimation for increased protection of the cornea, to prevent the negative effects of chemicals on the eye lens, which are washed off by copious production of tears.We know that our eyes water when we peel onions. This is the most common example of lacrimation from chemical exposure to the eyes. The same happens in a room where there is an excess of ammonia, tobacco smoke, and other active chemicals.
Treatment : Rinse eyes with warm water and leave. For prophylaxis, protective glasses must be used.

5. Conjunctivitis or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye also causes the eyes to water.In addition to a tear flowing, the eyes turn red. With bacterial conjunctivitis, pus discharge, edema of the eyelids joins.
Treatment : It is necessary to determine the cause of conjunctivitis and eliminate it using drugs that suppress the growth of viruses or bacteria. It can be: “tobrex”, “tobradex”, “maxitrol”, “interferon”, “albucid 20%”, “chloramphenicol” – 1 drop 4-6 times a day.

6 . Blepharitis , or inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, leads to chronic lacrimation, as well as the disease itself, which most often has a chronic course.Lacrimation with blepharitis is associated with swelling of the eyelids and difficulty in the outflow of tears through the lacrimal tubules.
Treatment : Treating the underlying blepharitis condition will help relieve lacrimation in this case.

7 . Irritation of the nerves innervating the lacrimal glands , a neurological cause of lacrimation. The innervation of the lacrimal gland is very complex. Four nerves provide sensory and secretory functions. This is the “lacrimal nerve” – ​​the first branch of the trigeminal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve, as well as nerve fibers of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.Irritation of these nerve fibers can cause hypersecretion of the lacrimal gland. Irritating factors include tumors, inflammatory diseases on the face, and trauma.
Treatment : Neurologists can advise what to do in this case to stop lacrimation.

8. Violation of the psychosomatic state of a person is a common cause when the eyes water in excess and tears flow like a river. Anger, fear, sadness or grief irritate the sympathetic nervous system, releasing into the blood so-called “stress reaction hormones” – adrenaline, norepinephrine.As you know, the lacrimal gland is innervated by the sympathetic nervous system and therefore, when it is irritated, an increased production of tears occurs. The stronger the stress response, the more irritation of the sympathetic nervous system and the more tears flow.
Treatment : drugs that stabilize the nervous system and reduce stress. Very suitable “Novopassit”, “Valerian extract”

B. Reasons causing impaired tear drainage:

1. The second most common cause of lacrimation is atony (decreased tone) of the lower eyelid .
Tear flows out of the conjunctival cavity through the lacrimal opening located on the lower eyelid. Normally, the eyelid has a good tone and the point is adjacent to the eyeball.

With age, the muscle tone changes, the tone decreases, the eyelid becomes flabby and a small gap forms between the eye and the eyelid. The lacrimal point moves away from the eyeball, the tear cannot find an outflow path and overflows over the edge of the eyelid. This happens when the eyes watery with age-related disorders in the body – atony of the lower eyelid.

Treatment : The treatment in this case can only be surgical. There are two directions of treatment: this is the expansion of the lacrimal opening or excision of a part of the lower eyelid to increase its tone and return to its original state, when the peeling point again adjoins the eyeball and the way the tears outflow is restored.

2. Clogging of the tear duct can be at any stage. In adults, blockage of the lacrimal tubules is most common.The cause of the blockage can be discharge from conjunctivitis, blepharitis, mascara and other similar reasons.
Violation of the outflow in the lacrimal sac occurs after the transferred inflammatory diseases of the lacrimal ducts, dacryocystitis, canaliculitis. In such cases, the products of inflammation remain in the lacrimal sac and prevent the outflow of tears.
Diagnostics is carried out by obtaining x-rays with a contrast agent that fills the lacrimal duct.
Treatment : Disruption of the conduction of the lacrimal tubules is carried out by dilating them and flushing them.As a rule, such procedures give a lasting positive effect.

3. Inflammatory process in the lacrimal duct . Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal gland. Dacryocystitis is characterized by the accumulation of inflammation products in the lacrimal sac, its swelling, redness and soreness in the area of ​​the internal adhesion of the eyelids. In this case, tears, as a rule, “run in a stream”. Canaliculitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal tubules. Diagnosis of canaliculitis is difficult, since there are no external signs of inflammation, except for lacrimation.
Treatment : Treatment must be carried out in a specialized surgical institution, since for the successful treatment of dacryocystitis, it is necessary to create an outflow pathway for the inflammatory fluid of the lacrimal sac, which is performed surgically.

4. Narrowing of the lacrimal passages , or their stricture, is, as a rule, a consequence of inflammatory processes of the eye – conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelids, blepharitis. Violation of the epithelial wall of the lacrimal duct due to exposure to infection leads to a narrowing of the lumen and to a violation of the outflow of tears.
Treatment : Bougienage of the lacrimal, nasolacrimal canals. If there is no effect, they resort to plastic surgery.

5. Torsion or eversion of the lacrimal openings – is the result of trauma or very severe inflammation of the eyelids. As a result of the scarring process, the lacrimal opening is displaced, the tear cannot flow along the lacrimal duct. The eyes are very watery.
Treatment : Cosmetological treatment of volvulus or eversion of the lacrimal opening can only be surgical.

6. Compression of the lacrimal tubules by edema of the eyelids – the most common cause lacrimation in the morning . If the eye is very watery in the morning, pay attention to whether you have swelling of the eyelids and face.
Low mobility of a person at night and a violation, especially with age, of the water-salt balance leads to stasis (slowing down of the flow) of fluid in the body, which accumulates in the tissues rich in fiber, which include the eyelids. Excessive accumulation of interstitial fluid compresses the lacrimal canals and can lead to severe lacrimation in the morning, which disappears with wakefulness and movement of the person.
Nocturnal lymphostasis, which occurs for a variety of reasons, from heart failure, renal failure to varicose veins, can be the reason when tears flow in the morning.
Treatment: If, in addition to tears in the morning, you notice swelling of the eyelids, then it is necessary, at least for a few minutes, to carry out active physical exercises. Muscle work will improve lymphatic drainage, eyelid edema will subside and lacrimation will stop.
In order to more accurately understand the malfunctions of the body, it is necessary to consult a therapist, who, on the basis of examinations, recommends the consultation of a narrow specialist.

C. Reasons leading to a violation of the composition of the tears :

1. Meibomitis (meibomitis) – inflammation of the meibomian glands 90 230 Meibomitis is the third most common cause when the eyes are watery.
The meibomian glands are located in the intermarginal edge of the eyelids (edges of the eyelids that touch when the eyes are closed). The meibomian glands produce a special viscous secretion, which is located in the surface layer of the tear.
The tear is 99% water, so it dries quickly.The secret of the meibomian glands interferes with this process.

With inflammation of the meibomian glands, the composition of the secret changes or it is completely absent when the glands are clogged with products of inflammation. In this case, the biochemical composition of the tear changes and the tear dries very quickly on the surface of the cornea, irritation occurs and, as a result, increased tearing, the eyes begin to water during this process.
Treatment : It is necessary to massage the edges of the eyelids (5-7 days) using anti-inflammatory ointments: “tetracycline”, “gentamicin”, “hydrocortisone”.
Treatment always has a positive result.

08/10/2021

Author, Ph.D. Oleg Ghetto

Dry, watery, reddened eyes: causes and solutions

Dry, watery, reddened eyes are not just a problem for the elderly. Similar complaints can be heard today even from schoolchildren. Therefore, you need to start taking care of moisturizing and caring for your eyes and eyelids from adolescence, especially if you (or your children) spend a lot of time in front of computers and smartphones.What are the causes of dry eyes and how to deal with this problem? Rudite Fomicheva, head of the BENU pharmacy # 4, advises on this.

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Dry eyes can be caused by many reasons, but the most common of them is “abuse” of computers and computer technologies.Looking at the phone and computer, a person does not blink or blinks very rarely, and this is not pleasant to the eyes. Central heating air also dries the eyes, reducing the natural moisture in the mucous membrane. Dry eyes can also be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or contrasting weather conditions: wind and bright sun make the eyes watery.

In addition, the eyes do not like inappropriate or thickly applied decorative cosmetics – it can not only dry the eyes, but also contribute to the formation of wrinkles.An allergic reaction is often the cause of complaints. In this case, the eyelids of both eyes swell, redden, itch, eyes watery, there is a burning sensation, swelling is possible, sensitivity to sunlight and bright light increases.

Foto: Shutterstock

Regardless of the cause, the most common signs that the eyes are lacking moisture are watery eyes, itching, and redness. Discomfort in the eyes can be felt both during the day and in the evening – it manifests itself in different ways for everyone. A person can work hard all day, and suddenly something like an attack happens – an irresistible urge to rub his eyes arises.

All these symptoms may indicate simply dry eyes, and allergies, and some more serious eye disease. Therefore, if the complaints persist for a long time, and also if symptoms persist after moisturizing the eyes, it is recommended to consult an eye doctor.

What does dry eye syndrome lead to? Says the doctor ophthalmologist of the clinic “Medservice”

Dry eye syndrome is caused by visual stress. Often, such patients work a lot at the computer, sometimes all day long, use air conditioners at work, which essentially “dry” the air.Dry eye syndrome can occur at any age, even in a child. Although patients may not be bothered by the corresponding disorders for some time, they only cause some discomfort.

In my opinion, another cause of dry eye syndrome may be the surgical treatment of the eyes. We are talking about laser vision correction. I had a patient after a similar operation. He saw well in one eye, and had problems with the other. At 12 o’clock, he quit work, because the eye began to hurt, bother, and the clarity of vision decreased.When he turned to me, he had a severe inflammation in the eye, which bothered and interfered with. After three days of treatment, he felt better. His mood changed, he came satisfied, happy.

Dry eye syndrome also occurs with cataracts. In second place in terms of importance, I would put the consequences of any other diseases. Especially of a rheumatological nature, systemic diseases, diabetes mellitus. Another reason is the intake of drugs that are currently being taken by patients in large quantities.When collecting anamnesis, it may turn out that the patient can take up to 4-5 different drugs at the same time. Even one such drug can lead to dryness of the mucous membrane, and in combination, they can lead, among other things, to the “dry eye” syndrome.

This is a fairly common disease and occurs in almost everyone. Even in the absence of complaints, when questioning the patient, it turns out that signs of “dry eye” are present – the eyes watery, get tired, turn red, and when examined, irritation of the mucous membrane is found.

Dry eye syndrome can lead to discomfort and even decreased vision.

Dry eye syndrome – POLIST

Causes of dry eyes

There are many causes of dry eye syndrome, which affects millions of people. The most common causes of dry eye syndrome are:

• Aging process: As we age, our eyes produce less tear fluid. Most people over the age of 65 experience dry eye syndrome.
• Contact lenses: Wearing contact lenses can dramatically increase the evaporation of the tear film, which in turn causes discomfort, infection and / or increased protein deposits. According to recent research, dry eye syndrome is the leading cause of contact lens intolerance.
• Hormonal changes in women: Various hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptives and menopause can cause dry eyes.
• Environmental Factors: People who are exposed to smoke, air pollution, sun, wind, cold and dry air currents often experience dry eye syndrome.
• Illness / Medication Side Effect: There are some illnesses and medications that can reduce the ability to produce tears. Make sure you provide a complete medical history to your doctor.
• Sjogren’s Syndrome: an immune system disorder characterized by inflammation and dryness of the mouth, eyes and other mucous membranes.With this disease, the lacrimal glands are damaged, as a result of which the secretion of tears worsens.
• Laser vision correction surgeries: As a result of such operations, the patient may develop dry eye syndrome. Many patients have experienced relief after laser vision correction surgery if they temporarily have an occlusion of the lacrimal openings.

Possible treatment

Depending on the condition of the eyes, treatment can be as simple as using drops several times a day.However, for more severe cases, there is a simple, non-surgical procedure that relieves dry eye syndrome for a long time, using tiny plugs – obturators of the lacrimal openings.

What is dry eye syndrome?

The function of tears is to protect and keep the eyes hydrated. Dry eye syndrome is a condition that results in a decrease in the quantity and / or quality of tears produced. This is because the lacrimal glands are not producing enough tears or are not producing the right kind of tears.This condition causes itching, irritation, burning, redness and discomfort. Dry eye syndrome is the most common of all eye conditions. It affects about 5% to 35% of the world’s population, depending on age and geographic location.

About tears

Our eyes are moistened by two types of tears: basal and reflex. Basal tears are constantly secreted without our control, moisturize the eyes and contain infection-fighting enzymes.Reflex tears are released in response to sudden irritation (smoke, onions, foreign body), injury, or emotion. Ironically, dry eye irritation can cause reflex tears that wet the eyes. But since reflex tears do not have the necessary lubricant composition, the discomfort does not go away. Thus, watery eyes can be a symptom of dry eyes.

What are lacrimal opening obturators?

The lacrimal opening obturator blocks the tear duct, which is a drainage channel that flushes tears from the surface of the eye.There are upper and lower lacrimal openings in the inner corner of each eye. Blocking the drainage channel helps prevent tears from flowing quickly. The lacrimal opening obturator can be compared to a plug inserted into the concha, it keeps tears on the surface of the eye for a long period. This procedure is safe, quick and painless. In addition, this device can be removed at any time.

Lacrimal opening obturators are made of very soft, flexible silicone, similar to that used for making contact lenses.Although they are barely visible to the naked eye, the obturators are lightweight and clear in design.

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