Severe Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome--or keratoconjunctivitis sicca--is where the lacrimal gland does not produce enough tears to keep the eye moist. Even though you are not crying, tears cover the eyeball with a layer of oil, water and mucus. Severe dry eye syndrome can also occur when abnormal tears are created that evaporate too quickly. With dry eye syndrome, both eyes are affected. Severe dry eye syndrome can occur in healthy people.

Symptoms

Pain, burning, scratchiness, itchiness and blurred vision make life uncomfortable. Your eyes feel tired only after a short period of time when you read. With dry eye syndrome, your cornea thickens and your visual focus is reduced.

Causes

As people age, the eyes produces fewer tears. Dry eye syndrome is common in older people. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke can cause eyes to dry out. Even the environment can cause this syndrome when eyes are exposed to excess sun, dry wind and arid indoor air. Cold medicine, allergy medication and prescription drugs can dry out the mucus membrane of the eyes. Eye injuries and disorders interfere with proper lacrimal gland function. Thermal or chemical burns can injure the lacrimal glands of the eye. Dry eye syndrome is a potential side effect of autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Sometimes, these disorders cause the immune system to attack its own lacrimal glands.

Prevention

Severe dry eye syndrome cannot be prevented, but the severity of the symptoms can be reduced. Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Limit your time in the sun, and shield your eyes from the wind with a good pair of sunglasses. Use a humidifier to add moisture to your indoor environment. When blow-drying your hair, turn your face away. Always wear protective eyewear when performing an activity that can potentially damage your eyes. This includes skiing, hockey and carpentry.

Diagnosis

See a care provider if you think you have severe dry eye syndrome. The care provider will make his diagnosis based on symptoms and tests. The Schirmer test is used to measure the amount of tears you produce. Small pieces of blotting paper are placed beneath your eyes for five minutes. The care provider measures the tears absorbed into the paper. Special eye drops are used to measure how long it takes for your tears to evaporate. This also allows the care provider to identify dry places in the cornea. A slit lamp is used to exam the eyeball and look at the film protecting your eyes.

Treatments

Use eye drops to replace tears to relieve mild cases of dry eye syndrome. Lubricating ointment reduces scratchy sensations in the eye. To prevent tears from draining into the tear ducts, tiny silicone plugs can be fitted into the ducts. Hot wire can cauterize the tear ducts, blocking drainage. Acupuncture does not create more tears, but it can help you tolerate the symptoms better. Make it a point to blink frequently in order to spread tears out across your eyes.

References

• The Duke Encyclopedia of New Medicine; Duke University; 2006

Resources

• The University of Maryland Medical Center: Dry Eye Syndrome