Dry Eyes Treatment

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    Dry Eyes

    What is Dry Eye?

    For your eyes to remain healthy, production of tears is necessary to provide adequate lubrication to your eyes. If your eyes fail to produce enough tears, a condition known as dry eye develops. Although dry eyes are common amongst older age groups, it can occur at any age.Dry eyes occur when tear production decreases or when the eye produces a poor quality of tear film. Many underlying causes are associated to the decrease in both the quality and quantity of tears, such as; age, hormonal imbalance, certain health conditions, medication, or eye surgery.At Menger Eye Centre, we provide comprehensive eye care, from routine eye examinations to measuring the volume and quality of tears so that we can offer our patients treatment plans tailored to meet their needs.

    How do tears work in keeping our eyes healthy?

    Usually when we blink, a film of tears spread over the eye keeping the eyes surface smooth and clear allowing for us to see clearly. This tear film consists of three basic layers; an oily layer, a watery layer and a mucus layer, with each layer serving a particular purpose. The oily layer, made in the meibomian gland, keeps the surface smooth while the watery layer, produced by the lacrimal glands, keeps the eye clean by clearing away the unnecessary particles entering the eye. The mucus layer produced in the conjunctiva assists in spreading the watery layer to the eyes surface to preserve a moist surface.

    Symptoms and causes of Dry Eyes

    Although dry eyes can go unnoticed, at Menger Eye Centre, we perform thorough eye examinations to detect the underlying cause for a diagnosis. Causes for dry eyes can range from major health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, blepharitis or from certain day to day activities, such as reading, or looking at a computer screen for a long period of time. Certain medications can also cause onset of dry eye syndrome, these include; allergy antihistamines, or beta-blockers used for high blood pressure. Symptoms of dry eyes include;

    • Pain
    • Blurred vision
    • Stinging or burning sensation in the eye
    • Difficulty wearing contact lenses
    • Production of mucus around the eyes
    • Redness or irritation in the eyes
    • Having a lot of tears in your eyes

    Treatment for Dry Eyes at Menger Eye Centre

    At Menger Eye Centre, we offer treatment plans ranging from medications to undergoing eye surgery dependent on the patient’s health status. Dry eye syndrome is a highly manageable condition and Dr. Peter Menger is determined to provide a treatment plan that proves to be highly effective and one that requires little to no drastic lifestyle changes, especially for our older patients who are accustomed to doing things differently and within an orderly manner. Dr Peter Menger and his team offer the following treatments;

    • Artificial tears; in cases where the dry eye is mild, relief may be sought from utilizing over the counter artificial tears. Artificial tears are eyedrops that are applied for a certain number of times through the day to decrease the symptoms of dry eye.
    • Nutrition;based on prior research, the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, such as sardines, tuna,anchovies and salmon, can assist in providing relief to dry eyes and in reducing the risk of developing dry eye syndrome. Omega-3 fatty acids can be added as a dietary supplement.
    • Medication;patients may be prescribed cyclosporine to treat chronic dry eye. This medication helps in reducing inflammation and promotes the production of healthy tears.
    • Surgery; if all other treatment options fail to provide any relief to dry eye syndrome, surgery may be recommended. Surgery for dry eyes consists of draining holes at the inner corners of the eyes and completely blocking them with tiny plugs. Special procedures to close the tear ducts in case of overflowing may also be performed with the aim of providing relief and to reduce the overall symptoms caused by dry eyes.