👁️ Dry Eye Syndrome – Overview
Dry Eye Syndrome (also called Dry Eye Disease) occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, leading to eye discomfort and vision problems.
⚙️ Causes
- Decreased tear production (e.g., aging, autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome)
- Increased tear evaporation (e.g., eyelid problems, environmental factors like wind or dry air)
- Prolonged screen use or reduced blinking
- Certain medications (antihistamines, antidepressants)
- Contact lens wear
- Hormonal changes (especially in women)
📋 Symptoms
- Dry, scratchy, or burning sensation in the eyes
- Redness
- Blurry vision that improves with blinking
- Feeling like something is in the eye (foreign body sensation)
- Excessive tearing (reflex tearing)
- Eye fatigue, especially after reading or screen time
🩺 Diagnosis
- Patient history and symptom evaluation
- Tear breakup time (TBUT): Measures tear film stability
- Schirmer’s test: Measures tear production
- Examination of the eye surface with special dyes
💊 Treatment
- Artificial tears and lubricating eye drops
- Prescription eye drops to reduce inflammation (e.g., cyclosporine, lifitegrast)
- Warm compresses and eyelid hygiene for meibomian gland dysfunction
- Lifestyle changes: take breaks from screens, humidify indoor air
- Punctal plugs to block tear drainage in severe cases
🛡️ Prevention
- Avoid smoke, wind, and dry environments
- Stay hydrated
- Blink frequently when using screens
- Use protective eyewear in harsh conditions