5 6 7 8
Dry EyeHow is dry eye diagnosed?Your ophthalmologist will begin
with an eye exam. He or she will look at your eyelids and the
surface of the eye. They will also check how you blink.
There are many different tests that help diagnose dry eyes. Your
ophthalmologist may do a test that measures the quality or the
thickness of your tears. He or she may also measure how quickly you
produce tears.
How is dry eye treated?Adding tears. Your ophthalmologist might
tell you to use artificial tears. These are eye drops that are like
your own tears. You can use artificial tears as often as you need
to. You can buy artificial tears without a prescription. There are
many brands. Try a few until you find a brand that works best for
you.
If you use artificial tears more than six times a day or are
allergic to preservatives, you should use preservative-free tears.
This is because if the tears with preservatives are used a lot,
these chemicals may start to irritate your eyes.
Saving tears. Your ophthalmologist may suggest blocking your
tear ducts. This makes your natural tears stay in your eyes longer.
Tiny silicone or gel plugs (called punctal plugs) may be inserted
in your tear ducts. These plugs can be removed later as needed.
Your ophthalmologist could also recommend surgery that permanently
closes your tear ducts.
Increasing your tears. Your ophthalmologist might have you use a
prescription eye drop medication. This helps your eyes make more of
their own tears.
SummaryTears keep your eyes healthy and comfortable. Dry eye is
when you do not produce enough tears or the right type of
tears.
Your ophthalmologist might suggest using artificial tears or
ointments. He or she may also prescribe eye drops that treat your
dry eye symptoms or help your eyes make tears. Other treatment
options include blocking your tear ducts with tiny plugs or with
surgery. This keeps tears in your eyes longer.
Avoiding overly warm, dry and windy places can help combat dry
eye. Also, some people find relief by adding omega-3 fatty acids to
their diets.
It is important to see your ophthalmologist regularly to check
for eye and vision changes.
If you have any questions about your vision, speak with your
ophthalmologist. He or she is committed to protecting your
sight.
Dry eye prevention tips Try not to use a hair dryer, if
possible.
Stay away from very warm rooms. In the winter, add moisture to
the air with a humidifier. Or put a pan of water near your heater
or radiator.
Protect your eyes from drying wind by wearing wrap-around
glasses outside.
Talk to your ophthalmologist about adding omega-3 fatty acids to
your diet for dry eye relief. They are found naturally in oily fish
(such as salmon, sardines, tuna, trout, and anchovies), and in
flaxseeds. Omega-3 fatty acids can be added as a dietary supplement
(pill or tablet).
Do you wake up with dry and scratchy eyes? Use artificial tear
ointment or thick eye drops just before you go to bed.
Treating dry eye culprits. If your eyes are irritated, your
ophthalmologist can treat those problems. They may recommend:
prescription eye drops or ointments
warm compresses on the eyes
massaging your eyelids
certain eyelid cleaners
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1 2 3 4
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest
association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of
32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by
setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for
our patients and the public. For more information, visit
www.aao.org.
COMPLIMENTS OF:
What is dry eye?Our eyes need tears to stay healthy and
comfortable. If your eyes do not make enough tears, it is called
dry eye. Dry eye also happens when tears are not made of the right
mix of elements (see diagram below), or when the tear film is not
as it should be.
How do tears work?When you blink, a film of tears spreads over
the eye. This keeps the eye’s surface smooth and clear. The tear
film is important for good vision.
The tear film is made of three layers:
An oily layer
A watery layer
A mucus layer
Each layer of the tear film serves a purpose.
The oily layer is the outside of the tear film. It makes the
tear surface smooth and keeps tears from drying up too quickly.
This layer is made in the eye’s meibomian glands.
The watery layer is the middle of the tear film. It makes up
most of what we see as tears. This layer cleans the eye, washing
away particles that do not belong in the eye. This layer comes from
the lacrimal glands in the eyelids.
The mucus layer is the inner layer of the tear film. This helps
spread the watery layer over the eye’s surface, keeping it moist.
Without mucus, tears would not stick to the eye. Mucus is made in
the conjunctiva. This is the clear tissue covering the white of
your eye and inside your eyelids.
Normally, our eyes constantly make tears to stay moist. If our
eyes are irritated, or we cry, our eyes make a lot of tears. But,
sometimes the eyes don’t make enough tears or something affects one
or more layers of the tear film. In those cases, we end up with dry
eyes.
What are symptoms of dry eye?Here are some of the symptoms of
dry eye.
You feel like your eyes are stinging and burning
You have blurry vision, especially when reading.
There is a scratchy or gritty feeling like something is in your
eye
There are strings of mucus in or around your eyes
Your eyes are red or irritated. This is especially true when you
are in the wind or near cigarette smoke
It is painful to wear contact lenses
You have lots of tears in your eyes
Having a lot of tears in your eyes with “dry eye” might sound
odd. But your eyes make more tears when they are irritated by dry
eye.
What causes dry eye?People tend to make fewer tears as they get
older due to hormonal changes. Both men and women can get dry eye.
However, it is more common in women—especially those who have gone
through menopause.
Here are some other causes of dry eye.
Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s
syndrome, thyroid disease, and lupus
Blepharitis (when eyelids are swollen or red)
Entropion (when eyelids turn in); ectropion (eyelids turn
outward)
Being in smoke, wind or a very dry climate
Looking at a computer for a long time, reading and other
activities that reduce blinking
Using contact lenses for a long time
Having refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK
Taking certain medicines, such as:
Diuretics (water pills) for high blood pressure
Beta-blockers, for heart problems or high blood pressure
Allergy and cold medicines (antihistamines)
Sleeping pills
Anxiety and antidepressant medicines
Heartburn medicines
Tell your ophthalmologist about all the prescription and
non-prescription medicines you take.
Cornea
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Mucuslayer
Waterylayer
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Watch a dry eye video from the American Academy of
Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart program at aao.org/dry-eye-link.
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