• sandy, gritty feeling
• “like something is in my eyes”
• burning sensation
• light sensitivity
• dry and/or watery
• blurred vision that improves with blinking
• symptoms seem worse after prolonged periods of reading, watching TV, or driving

• AGE- older patients are more common to have dry eyes. As we grow older, our bodies produce less oil – 60% less at age 65 then at age 18. Without as much oil to protect the tear layer, the tears evaporate much faster.
• MEDICATIONS- antihistamines, hormone treatment, diuretics (blood pressure medication), sleeping pills, alcohol, and anti-depressants can make your eyes dry.
• HORMONES- females have hormone changes during pregnancy or menopause that can lead to dry eyes. Patients with a thyroid disorder may also have dry eyes.
• INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS- patients with Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteo-arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and many other inflammatory conditions tend to have more severe dry eyes.
• Sjögren's ("SHOW-grins") Syndrome is a chronic disease in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. The hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, but it is a systemic disease, affecting many organs and may cause fatigue. It is one of the most prevalent autoimmune disorders, striking as many as four million Americans.
• CONTACT LENSES- since the lens absorbs some of your tears to keep moist, those who have mildly dry eyes may have more symptoms with contacts. Fortunately there are newer lenses that stay moist and allow patients with DES to wear contacts.

Even if you can tolerate the mild discomfort of DES, it is important to use artificial tears 2-3 times a day to decrease your risk for complications associated with dry eyes. If the cornea gets dry, overtime it can become more sensitive and vision can be blurred. The cornea can get small cracks (like dry, chaffed skin) and get infected. If your eye doctor diagnoses you with DES, use lubricating drops as instructed.

TREATMENT FOR DES

• The first treatment for DES is usually over-the-counter artificial tears. These come in a variety of types and brands. Your eye doctor may recommend a specific type, but below is an explanation of your options:

Note: Brand name artificial tears hold moisture better than most generics. Below is a list of some of our favorites at Eye Care Oklahoma.

• Optive
• Systane
• Soothe
• Genteal

 

Preservative-Free Tears- These come packaged in individual vials and do not contain preservatives. This is beneficial to those with sensitive eyes, if regular tears burn, or if you have to use artificial tears more than 4 times per day. One vial can be used more than once if you avoid contaminating the tip, but never use an opened vial for more than one day.

• Bion Tears
• Hypotears PF
• Refresh Plus
• Tears Naturale Free
• Systane Preservative Free

 

• Lubricating Gels- these are thicker than artificial tears and may blur your vision for a couple of minutes after insertion. However, these hold moisture longer and are great for moderate to severe DES. Gels are great to use at bedtime.
  • Refresh Liquigel
  • Genteal Gel

 

• Lubricating Ointments- these are significantly thicker than tears. They will blur your vision for several hours. Ointments are recommended for severe dry eyes, however, they are also very beneficial to use at bedtime if a gel doesn’t seem to last long enough. You may wake up greasy and blurry, but cleanse your eyelids with soap and water and insert a few drops of tears in the morning.
  • Refresh PM
  • Lacri-Lube
  • Dura-Tears
  • Pura-Lube

   

  Note: Be cautious of over-the-counter allergy drops like Visine or Clear-Eyes. These have medication in them that can worsen DES. Only use for itchy, red eyes and never use more than 2 times a day unless instructed differently by your eye doctor.

• If artificial tears, gels, and ointments do not control DES, a prescription drop called RESTASIS has been shown to increase tear production. This drop is used once in the morning and once in the evening for several months. It helps to decrease inflammation of the eye and lacrimal gland and restore a healthy tear film. Many patients notice significant improvement in their DES after 2 weeks of treatment and more improvement by 3 months.

• Another treatment option for DES is punctal occlusion with plugs. This sounds extreme, but is a fairly simple treatment option that can provide immediate improvement of dry eye symptoms. A small plug is placed in the punctum, which is a tiny hole in the inner corner of your lids. This slows the drainage of tears away from the eyes so the tears can keep the eyes moist longer. There are 3 types of plugs most commonly used.

• A collagen 2-week dissolvable plug is easy to insert and lasts only 2 weeks. This gives the physician and patient the opportunity to verify plugs will help before using a longer lasting plug.

• A new 3-month plug is now used for those with seasonal DES especially associated with allergies or post-operatively.

• Silicone plugs are used for those who want the plugs indefinitely. These do not dissolve and are intended to stay in as long as needed.

• Certain lifestyle changes can help dry eyes:
  • Drink eight to ten glasses of water each day, this keeps the body hydrated and flushes impurities.
  • Make a conscious effort to blink frequently – especially when reading or watching television.
  • Avoid rubbing the eyes. This only worsens the irritation.
  • Take Omega 3 supplements such as Flaxseed oil. A brand name supplement for dry eyes called “TheraTears” has a variety of nutrients to target DES.

If you think you may have DES, call our office and schedule an appointment for an evaluation. At your appointment, request a free sample of artificial tears, gel, ointment, and/or Restasis prescription drops based on your specific needs.