Dry Eye Treatment

 

Pain, blurred vision, and even loss of sight may possibly result in particularly severe cases.

Tears lubricate the inside of the eyelids to make blinking smooth and comfortable.

Without them, the surface of the eye can become irritated, which can potentially cause damage to the cornea.

Tears are produced in the lacrimal gland (1) and lubricate across the eye (2) and are then drained through the punta, canalicular drain into the lacrimal duct (3).

What Are the Purposes of Tears?

As you know, the symptoms of dry eye are caused by a reduction in your eye’s ability to produce sufficient natural tears. Tears are important because they serve several functions for keeping the eye healthy. The following are just a few:

• Tears moisturize the surface of the eye. Tears lubricate the inside of the eyelids to make blinking smooth and comfortable. Without them, the surface of the eye can become irritated, which can potentially cause damage to the cornea.
  • This prevents the cornea (the transparent front portion of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber) from drying. If the cornea dries, it can potentially become damaged.
  • Pain, blurred vision, and even loss of sight may possibly result in particularly severe cases.
• Tears nourish the eye by transporting oxygen to the eye and removing carbon dioxide. Without tears, a malnourished cornea can lead to damaged vision.
• Tears clean and protect the eye by washing away foreign particles. Tears contain antibacterial and antiviral substances that help defend the eye against infection.

How Are Dry Eye Symptoms Treated?

• If you suspect you have dry eye symptoms, see your doctor. He or she can determine which treatment is appropriate for you. Depending on the severity of your condition, tear replacement is the most commonly recommended therapy—this involves the use of lubricant eye drops. The primary goal of treatment is to keep the eye moist and comfortable and to protect the eye’s delicate surface.
• In adds to to making changes to your environment, you may possibly want to also use artificial tears to ease your symptoms.
• You should also try to eliminate the factors that exacerbate or contribute to dry eye: Contributing eye abnormalities (such as blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids) should be treated.
  • Schedule regular breaks from reading, television viewing, and computer use.
• Try to avoid excessive heat, air conditioning, and low humidity — they can aggravate dry eye symptoms as can being close to air conditioning ducts or heating vents.
• Lower your computer screen so that you are looking down at it. This may possibly decrease some of the discomfort that is often associated with prolonged computer use.
• Avoid or eliminate those elements that are known to cause or aggravate dry eye symptoms.
• The use of antihistamines or diuretics should be decreased as much as possible. However, it is important that you talk to your doctor before adjusting the dosage of or stopping any medications.

Treatment with artificial tears/lubricants
Preserved Artificial Tears

• Artificial tears are a common treatment for dry eye symptoms.
• They provide moisture, surface wetting, and comfort for people who suffer from dry eye symptoms.
• Preserved artificial tears are typically recommended for those with mild dry eye symptoms.
  • Systane

Preservative-Free Artificial Tears

• As your symptoms become worse, you may possibly increase the use of artificial tears.
• Preservative-free tears are often recommended for those with moderate or severe dry eye symptoms.
• People with sensitive eyes may possibly also prefer nonpreserved tears.
  • Celluvisc
  • Refresh

Thicker Artificial Tears and Ointments

• Thicker artificial tears or ointments may possibly be substituted if you use artificial tears more often.
• An ointment may possibly be preferred for nighttime use
• Artificial lubricants such as tears and ointment

Drops with Omega-3 - Thera-tears

• Omega-3s are essential fatty acids. “Essential” means that, because they cannot be produced by the body, their inclusion in the diet is essential for good health. The two best sources of omega-3s are dark, oily, cold-water fish, and flaxseed. They are known to have a multitude of health benefits, yet, as a population, Americans are omega-3 deficient—it has been estimated that 83% of Americans are deficient in omega-3s.^1,2 North Americans have among the lowest dietary intake of omega-3s in the world (Figure 1).

  

  Figure 1. North America has among the
  lowest omega-3 consumption in the world
  
  

  Omega-6s are another group of essential fatty acids. Americans obtain an excess of these through their consumption of beef, dairy, vegetable cooking oils, and vegetable shortenings (i.e. cookies, potato chips, snacks etc.). Unfortunately, while the recommended ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s is 1:2.3, the existing ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s consumption has been estimated to be as low as 1:10.

  Omega-3s and Dry Eye
  Omega-3s decrease inflammation

• Omega-3s in the diet, once consumed, are elongated by enzymes to produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E3 (PGE3) and anti-inflammatory leukotriene B5 (LTB5)
• Even more importantly, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a long-chain omega-3 provided directly by fish oils, blocks the gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1a), interleukin-1beta (IL-1b), proteoglycan degrading enzymes (aggrecanases) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2)
• There is an abundance of clinical evidence that ingestion of omega-3s decreases the inflammation seen in the joints in rheumatoid arthritis ^3-6 and in the skin in dermatitis as well. ⁷These anti-inflammatory effects go a long way to explain why omega-3s have been useful in helping patients with symptoms of posterior blepharitis or meibomitis. ⁸ In my practice, omega-3s have been displacing my use of systemic tetracyclines as treatment for the eye irritation that my meibomitis patients experience upon awakening in the morning. But the effects of omega-3s only begin with their effects on meibomitis.
• The effects of suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines don't stop here. We now know that the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF- a , IL-1 a , and IL-1 b , impair tear secretion in lacrimal gland disease-based dry eye by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters from neural synapses, and interfering with the secretory response of lacrimal gland acinar cells to stimulation. This is probably the main mechanism by which tear secretion decreases in dry eye.
• Meibomian glands use essential fatty acids to synthesize oil (meibum). Dietary intake of omega-3s in general, and EPA and DHA in particular, have recently been shown to affect the polar lipid profiles of meibum as observed by HPLC. ²⁵ Indeed, Boerner has observed the clearing and thinning of meibomian gland secretions with omega-3 supplementation. 8 Further studies are needed to determine whether these effects are sufficient to bolster the oil layer and retard evaporation.

Stimulation of tear production

1. Oral pilocarpine
   
2. Restasis
   
   • Restasis ® Ophthalmic Emulsion is the only prescription eye drop indicated to increase tear production which may possibly be reduced by inflammation on the eye surface in patients with Chronic Dry Eye.
   • Increased tear production was not seen in patients using topical steroid drops or tear duct plugs. The approved treatment is one drop in the morning and one drop at night in each eye, every day
   • Unlike artificial tears, Restasis® Ophthalmic Emulsion helps increase your natural ability to produce tears which may possibly be suppressed by inflammation due to Chronic Dry Eye.
   • Indeed, numerous patients using Restasis® report a noticeable increase in tear production with continued use.
   • What to Expect

     • Restasis® Ophthalmic Emulsion works gradually to increase tear production. Individual results may possibly vary.

     Initial Results

     • You may possibly initially notice you're using artificial tears less and less. Over the course of time, you may possibly be able to discontinue their use altogether.

     After Three Months

     • By the end of the third month numerous users can experience a significant difference in tear production.

     Continue Using Restasis®

     • As shown in six-month clinical studies, the benefits of Restasis® Ophthalmic Emulsion depend upon continuous use of the product.

Maintenance of Moisture

Moisture Chambers

 

Punctal Occlusion

Tarsorrahaphy