Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eye syndrome is a condition affecting more than 10 million Americans. People suffering from dry eye syndrome do not produce enough tears to keep their eyes lubricated. As a result, they may experience the following symptoms:

Dry, gritty, or scratchy eyes
Burning or itching eyes
Redness
Blurred vision
Foreign body sensation
Light sensitivity
Brief periods of excessive tearing followed by extended periods of dryness

While dry eyes cannot be cured, your eye doctor can recommend several treatment options that will alleviate the symptoms and prevent chronic discomfort. It is important to understand that dry eye syndrome may make you an unsuitable candidate for LASIK. If you desire laser eye surgery, your ophthalmologist will have to treat the condition before you undergo surgery.

Self-Care treatment Options

There are several treatment methods that you can perform by yourself at home:

Use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. This will cause your tears to evaporate more slowly.
Keep ceiling fans and oscillating fans at a low speed. Excessive air movement can lead to dry eyes.
Use hot compresses and eyelid scrubs/massages to warm up the oil in your glands and spread the oil throughout your eye.
Over-the-counter eye drops and artificial tears can help keep your eyes lubricated. If you wear contact lenses, consult your eye doctor before using these drops. Many of them cannot be used while contacts are in your eyes.
Lubricating eye ointments can be worn at night while you are sleeping. The thickness of these ointments can cause blurry vision, so they should only be used at night.

Medications

The following prescription medications may help alleviate symptoms of dry eye syndrome:

Lacrisert is an artificial tear insert. It is similar to a contact lens and must be used once or twice daily. The insert contains cellulose, which stabilizes and thickens your tear film. If not inserted properly, Lacrisert can cause a corneal abrasion, so it is important to follow the instructions carefully.
Restasis can be prescribed to decrease eye inflammation. When you suffer from an eye inflammation, it can inhibit the ability of your eyes to preserve the tear film. This medication is taken twice daily.
Antibiotics can be prescribed if you suffer from blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction.

Surgery

The following surgical options can provide you with more permanent relief:

Temporary or permanent punctal plugs can be inserted into your tear ducts to prevent tears from draining too quickly. These plugs are made of silicone. The insertion process is painless, and you will not even notice them once they are in your eyes.
For severe cases of dry eye syndrome, your eye doctor may recommend having your tear ducts permanently closed with a burning method. This procedure is much more difficult to reverse than the punctal plugs.

Please contact an eye doctor in your area if you suffer from dry eye syndrome.