There are several reasons that normal tear production can be disrupted. Changes in your hormones as you age, allergies, or even autoimmune or other diseases can disrupt the delicate tear film designed to lubricate your eyes. 

Dry eye often happens simply as a result of aging. Over time, your tear production may decrease, a condition known as keratoconjunctivitis. Some medications can cause dry eye as a side effect. Even certain forms of arthritis or thyroid disorders, which are all very common, can cause dry eyes. 

While these conditions may cause the body to produce less aqueous fluid, which is the water that lubricates the eyes, you may also suffer from increased tear evaporation caused by clogging of small glands on the sides of your eye called the meibomian glands. If you suffer from skin conditions such as rosacea, blocked meibomian glands are very common. Even eye allergies, or smoking can cause this problem to occur.

Dry eye syndrome is the chronic form of the condition known as dry eyes. Experiencing chronically irritated and dry eyes can eventually cause corneal scarring or make your eyes prone to bacterial infections. The good news is that these problems are easily corrected in the majority of cases.

Each time you blink, your eyes are bathed in a protective tear coating. These lubricating tears are more complex than you might imagine. There are three layers to every drop of moisture in your eyes:

• An oil or lipid layer that helps reduce tear evaporation
• A water or aqueous layer
• A mucin layer that helps the tears stick to the eyes surface

The tear layer performs four important functions to keep your eyes healthy:

• Decreases the risks of eye infection
• Flushes out any foreign particles in the eyes
• Keeps the eyes clear and smooth
• Lubricates and protects the eyes

When any part of the tear film doesn’t work correctly, you will begin to experience dry eyes. What’s happening is that the surface of your eye is developing dry spots due to decreased tear production. What you experience is the dry scratchy redness of dry eye. When this condition becomes chronic, dry eye syndrome is the result.

Dry eyes can be easily diagnosed by your eye doctor. If you’re experiencing the symptoms of dry eye, call us and we will set up your appointment. During your first visit, a number of painless tests will help us determine your course of treatment. This could include:

• A comprehensive eye exam and overall health history
• A tear osmolarity test to measure the composition of the lubrication in your eyes
• An eye test to measure the quality of your tear production
• Tear samples may be taken to look for evidence of dry eye disease
• A test that looks at how the tears spread across the eyes
• A test to measure the volume of your tear production 

Your doctor will conduct a thorough assessment of the severity of your symptoms and how long you’ve experienced them. The tests will help your doctor determine the underlying condition that led to the symptoms you’re experiencing. Then a treatment plan is determined.

If you are diagnosed with occasional dry eyes, over-the-counter artificial tear eyedrops may be all you need. If you have the more chronic dry eye syndrome, the treatment may depend on what is causing the condition to occur. For example, if a medication is causing dry eyes as a side effect, your doctor may recommend an alternative drug that doesn’t cause dry eye.  

There are also several prescription treatments available to help resolve the symptoms of dry eyes. These often come in the form of eye drops, but could also include oral medications. This could include:

• Antibiotics to reduce eye inflammation
• Corticosteroids
• Drugs to stimulate tears
• Eye inserts that work similarly to artificial tears

When medications fail to resolve dry eye syndrome, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to close the tear ducts or to clear blocked oil glands. If your condition isn’t chronic even some at-home remedies may help, including using a warm wet cloth over the eyes to reduce the stinging and burning. Your doctor may recommend a few natural supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids.