Tips for Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry Eye Syndrome affects millions of Americans, and most are over about 40 years old. It's an insufficiency of tears -- the eyes are either not producing enough tears or are producing tears of inadequate quality. Tears have a variety of ingredients and some may be missing. There is no cure for Dry Eye Syndrome but it can be managed.

Tears are made in each eye's lacrimal gland, which is beneath the upper eyelid. There is a system of tiny ducts and canals for the tears to enter the eyes and drain out again, being replaced by fresh tears. They drain out through the puncta (singular = punctum), which are apertures at the inside corner of each eye connecting to the nasal sinuses and throat.

Many Causes of Dry Eyes

Allergies are more famous for causing streaming eyes, but some can cause dry eyes. So also can many medical conditions that don't appear to be related to the eyes:

• Diabetes
• Rosacea (there are both dermal and ocular rosacea, usually found together)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus (Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) -- an autoimmune disease
• Sjogren's syndrome -- another autoimmune disease where the body's immune cells attack the glands that make tears and saliva

Dry eyes can be a temporary side effect of LASIK. Our eyes naturally become drier with age, and there are also eyelid problems, some medications, and various environmental factors, all of which can make the eyes too dry. So even without any allergies or diseases, dry eyes can happen, and be very annoying. It gives a feeling that something is in the eye -- and there may indeed be things like dust or cat fur, since the tears are insufficient to wash them out.

Some Ways to Mitigate the Dryness

Start noticing how often you blink. Each blink distributes tears over the eye's surface. But when we use a computer, read, or watch TV, we tend to blink less often. That's a habit that can be modified.

Keep chlorinated water out of the eyes, as chlorine is a known irritant. Wear sunglasses at all times outdoors, and choose a pair with side pieces and a top piece to block sun from those directions as well as rays going directly into the eyes. That style also help to keep dust and wind out of your eyes.

Think about the humidity in your home. Both furnaces and air conditioning make the air dry. Fans can blow air directly into the eyes and be as drying as a strong wind. A humidifier is a great investment for improving air quality -- there are some which tell you what the current humidity is and keep you updated as they inject more moisture into the air.

Are you taking any medications which cause dry eyes as a side effect? Read the labels and ask your doctor if there might be any alternatives.

Be careful what eye drops you use for moisturizing. This is another thing to consult your eye doctor about, even if youre just using an over-the-counter brand. Some brands look good but actually worsen the problem over time. Some have preservatives which irritate the eyes.

If nothing works well enough, your eye doctor might suggest punctal plugs. This is a procedure where those little exit canals are partially blocked to slow down the rate at which the tears drain out.