What Causes My Dry Eyes?
There are numerous causes and risk factors that contribute to the development of dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome is a chronic eye condition that is characterized by dry eyes and other symptoms including:
- Dryness
- Tearing
- Redness
- Itchy eyes
- Burning
- A gritty sensation
- The sensation of a foreign body in the eye
- Crusty eyelids
- Blurred vision
Your tears comfort your eyes in many ways. Water moisturizes, an outer layer of oils lubricates and prevents evaporation, and proteins help protect against infection. Dry eye strikes when your eyes can’t produce enough tears for lubrication or the moisture in your tears evaporates too quickly.
What is Meibomian Gland Disorder?
In 80% of cases, Dry Eye Syndrome is caused by some problem with the meibomian glands, which produce the lipids (oils) essential for proper eye lubrication and for maintaining the appropriate breakup time (evaporation rate) of tears. The glands can get blocked or even atrophy by infection, environmental factors, and lifestyle.
Dry Eye is a very common condition which we treat in our practice. Some recent research by Harris Interactive indicates that about 70% of people with dry eye don’t ever see an eye care professional, despite the fact that nearly half of all Americans suffer from dry eye symptoms to some extent on a regular basis. This is unfortunate as most patients stand to benefit immensely through appropriate treatment for dry eyes. At our Burnsville eye clinic, we develop a custom treatment plan for you, tailored to treat the specific causes of your dry eyes.
Dry Eye Syndrome has probably always existed, especially in the presence of environmental factors such as dust, cold, dryness, and, pollution. However, it seems to been getting more common and more severe, particularly over the last decade.
One likely reason is the explosion in the use of digital devices. More and more, we spend many hours of the day continually looking at computers, smartphones, and digital televisions. This makes us stare for long periods of time while blinking much less than normal. Infrequent blinking, in turn, causes our meibomian glands to be blocked and even atrophy, resulting in serious and chronic dry eye syndrome.
The widespread use of contact lenses is likely also a contributing factor. Long days of use, combined with improper care and cleaning irritates the eyes and contributes to dryness and discomfort.
Various medications, becoming more widespread, also have side effects including dry eyes. Lastly, age is the most common contributor to developing dry eyes. As we live longer and longer, the rates of dry eyes are bound to increase.
At Burnsville Family Eye Care, we use the latest technology to test the makeup of your tears. This includes:
- how quickly tears break down and evaporate
- The chemical and pH balance of tears
- the lipid (oil) to water ratio
- and more.
The technology we employ at our Burnsville Dry Eye Clinic includes:
- Visual examinations
- TearLab
- InflammaDry
- Fluorescein dye
TearLab
Proper eye lubrication and comfort requires tears that have the right balance between water, salts, and lipids―the oils produced by your meibomian glands. TearLab is a special device used to test that balance. In most cases, Meibomian Gland Disorder is the chief culprit for dry eyes. This occurs when there is some kind of blockage, infection, or atrophying of the glands which disrupt the ability of those lipids to be present. A lack of these lipids causes your tears to evaporate faster than they should. The TearLab tests the osmolarity of your tears.
A strong imbalance between the osmolarity of one eye vs. the other is a strong indication that someone has dry eye disease.
InflammaDry
Another tool used by our dry eyes experts is InflammaDry, which tests the level of inflammation in your eyes. This dry eyes diagnostic tool tests whether or not a patient has elevated levels of something called MMP-9 in their tears from the inner lining of the lower eyelid. MMP-9 is a protein which indicates inflammation, which is fairly common for anyone suffering from dry eyes.
Our Burnsville eye doctor will typically prescribe steroids in order to get the eye inflammation under control.
Fluorescein Dye Test
Dr. Mattson, or another of our dry eye doctors, will also test your tear-breakup time. Essentially, if the makeup of your tears is off, they will sometimes simply evaporate before they can work effectively. Our eye doctors test your tear breakup time, using a fluorescein orange dye ― which is also useful in spotting other corneal diseases, conditions, or foreign bodies. Our optometrist will gently touch your eye with a tiny amount of special blotting paper. As you blink, the dye will spread and painlessly coat the tear film which covers the cornea. Using a blue light to contrast with the orange dye, the eye doctor is able to see problems revealed in green.
Does Staring at a Screen Cause Dry Eye?
Continuous staring at a fixed object, such as a phone or computer screen, usually results in a decreased blink rate. The lack of blinking actually causes the eyes not to replenish the tears often enough. The meibomian glands, therefore, can become blocked or even atrophy and die.
Does Drinking More Water Help with Dry Eye?
The main component of tears is water. Most of us don’t drink enough water. If you are dehydrated or not drinking enough, then you may not produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist. Snapple, Coke and other caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea may feel like they quench your thirst, but they actually dehydrate the body. Your body needs water to prevent dry eyes symptoms.
Antihistamines and Dry Eyes
Certain medications are known to contribute to dry eyes. In particular, anti-histamines (allergy) medication. Prolonged use of antihistamines will often lead to dry eye symptoms developing.
Beta-Blockers and Dry Eyes
Typically prescribed for controlling blood pressure, beta-blockers are proven to cause or exacerbate existing dry eye symptoms. If you are taking beta-blockers and experiencing symptoms, let us know! Your Burnsville dry eye doctors can help.
A recent study about the correlation between migraines and dry eyes has interesting results. Comparing migraine sufferers to people without headaches. The results showed a much greater prevalence of dry eye in the migraine group than in those without headaches. So, researchers are speculating that some migraines may worsen when dry eye symptoms are present. It has been recently hypothesized that when people report on headaches these could actually be caused by dry eyes, amongst other factors. However, it is unclear whether one causes the other, or whether computer use is a contributing cause of both headaches and dry eyes.
As we age, we experience hormonal changes. These changes are known to cause or contribute to dry eyes. While this is true of both men and women, it seems that women over 50 are particularly more prone to developing dry eye symptoms.
The following environmental factors are known to play a huge role in causing or contributing to dry eyes:
- Smoke
- Pollution
- Cold-climate and central heating
- Dry climate
- Sandy or dusty conditions
Various diseases contribute to dry eyes. Autoimmune diseases are a known factor. Rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome – a common symptom that rheumatologists treat can also contribute to dry eyes. Diabetics or those with Glaucoma that requires medication are more likely to have dry eye syndrome.
One of the main reasons people discontinue contact lens usage is due to dry eyes. The good news is there have been major improvements across all the brands with special contacts that are aimed at preventing dry eye symptoms.
What Treatments for Dry Eye Are Recommended?
Lifestyle Changes to Manage Dry Eye
There are many ways to treat dry eye. The first recommendation is to prevent dry eye symptoms. Blink a lot and drink a lot. Avoid eye irritants, use lubricating eye drops if you are taking medication that puts you at risk for dry eye. Over the counter eye drops for dry eye are widely available. Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a focus on vitamins like Omega 3.
- One of the most common treatments we recommend is simple. Just BLINK! Blink regularly. Good, hard, fully closed blinks help restore the tear film.
- The 20-20-20 Rule! During prolonged computer or digital device use take 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, to look at an object at a distance of at least 20 feet away. This gives your eyes a needed rest.
- Drink adequately. Women need at least 91 oz. of water a day. Men need even more.
- Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease dry eyes symptoms. Fish and flax are good natural sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, also available in tablet form.
- If using a medicine that is known to contribute to dry eyes, like antihistamines or beta blockers, it’s important to combat dry eye with over the counter teardrops.
Omega 3 vitamins are very well-known to be good for general health, and heart health, but they are also helpful in treating dry eyes. There are even formulations specific for dry eyes. These usually consist of Omega 3 with DHA from flaxseed oil and includes vitamin C, vitamin E, Vitamin B6, magnesium, and a variety of other vitamins specifically geared toward patients with dry eyes.
At our Burnsville Dry Eye Clinic, we recommend HydroEye. This supplement contains the ideal mix of omega-3 fatty acids combined with various antioxidants and vitamins. This formula is effective in easing the symptoms of dry eyes as well as protecting against it.
In cases of chronic dry often, we often see patients who have a decreased ability to produce tears. This occurs because of the constant inflammation they experience. Unlike simulated tears, Restasis and Xiidra are prescription eyedrops which are both proven to increase the eye’s ability to make its own tears. Instead of having to constantly replenish your eyes’ moisture, with Restasis or Xiidra you are actually stimulating your eyes to make more tears over time.
When do I need prescription eye drops and when is a dietary supplement enough?
Typically, Restasis or Xiidra is used for chronic cases, while a recommended omega-3 supplement usually can and should be used in most cases even as a preventative measure and to maintain optimal eye health.
Our eye doctors are experts in treating dry eye syndrome and will diagnose and guide you through the right treatment plan for you. You don’t have to continue to suffer. Book an appointment with our Burnsville dry eye specialist today.
Restasis vs. Xiidra for Dry Eyes
Restasis has been in use for a number of years. It is an eye drop that is used twice a day. It’s the teardrop form of cyclosporine, an autoimmune suppressant which is prescribed for many chronic conditions, and it has been found to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes by reducing the inflammation and increasing tear production. However, Restasis doesn’t necessarily help to improve the outflow of the oil that needs to be produced on top of the tears so that the tears don’t evaporate. Right now some of the studies are suggesting that over 50% of people with dry eyes actually have meibomian gland dysfunction. So, if the first lines of treatment are failing to manage dry eye symptoms, consider more rigorous treatments for dry eyes and blepharitis. Restasis also has side effects, with some patients experiencing burning and discomfort.
Xiidra is a newer drug that has recently received FDA approval for the treatment of Dry Eyes. Clinical studies have shown it to be significantly effective in alleviating symptoms, and it works far faster than Restasis, providing significant relief within as little as 2 weeks without the side effects of Restasis. However, the long-term benefits for dry eyes have yet to be conclusively proven.
At our Burnsville Dry Eye Clinic, we typically recommend Restasis. Click here to learn more about Restasis.
At our Burnsville eye clinic, our optometrists occasionally use punctal plugs to treat dry eyes. For those suffering from dry eyes caused by a lack of tears (as opposed to meibomian gland disorder) can often benefit from punctal plugs. These are small devices that are inserted into the tear ducts to slow or even block the drainage of tears. This increases the tear-film and moisture present in the eyes.
In most cases, the procedure is quick, painless, and uneventful. Find out if punctal plugs are right for you.
A scleral lens sitting on the eye
Scleral lenses are a special contact lens that is large. It sits on the sclera, rather than the cornea, leaving a pocket of space over the cornea. In our Burnsville eye clinic, our optometrists use scleral lenses to treat a variety of eye conditions, including keratoconus and for people with sensitivity to regular contacts.
Scleral lenses are highly useful in treating Dry Eyes. Studies have shown that the use of scleral lenses is effective in treating moderate to severe dry eyes. In more than 50% of cases, patients fitted with scleral lenses report reduced discomfort and dry eye symptoms, decreased use of artificial tears and improved visual acuity.
Alipour F, Kheirkhah A, Behrouz M. Use of mini-scleral contact lenses in moderate to severe dry eye. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2012 Dec;35(6):272-6.
This is a revolutionary treatment that has been developed in the past few years for treating severe and chronic cases of dry eye. Amniotic membranes are collected during elective cesarean births from the placenta. Amniotic membranes protect and nurture the baby in the womb. When placed over the eye, this membrane dramatically heals the eye surface which has been damaged by prolonged dry eyes. Absolutely no sale of body parts is involved, and absolutely NO harm comes to the infant or the mother in extraction.
The results of using an amniotic membrane to treat dry eye are dramatic. At our dry eye clinic, we make use of both wet and dry membranes, which differ slightly in use. Both types offer significant, dramatic, and real healing and relief for inflamed and scarred eyes due to dry eyes. The use of amniotic membranes is a gamechanger in the treatment of dry eyes.
Wet Amniotic Membrane
The "Wet" amniotic membrane is a thin membrane held together by a small plastic ring. Applied directly to the eye, the ring holds it in place right where the eyelid meets the sclera (the white part) of the eye. The healing from this method is very fast. Usually, the membrane needs to be worn for no more than a week before dramatic improvement occurs.
Dry Amniotic Membrane
Looking more like a thin dry bit of tiny corrugated cardboard, the dry membrane is placed right on the cornea and held in place with something called a "bandage contact lens" on top.
Do You Live in Burnsville, Eagan, or Savage and suffer From Dry Eyes?
Dr. Andrew Mattson is the founder of Burnsville Family Eye Care in Burnsville, Minnesota
Doctor Andrew Mattson is the owner and founder of the Burnsville Family Eye Care Dry Eye Treatment Center. His practice provides advanced treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome in his Burnsville, in addition to primary eye care, advanced care, cataract and LASIK co-management, and advanced contact lens fittings.
After graduating from Apple Valley High School, Doctor Mattson earned his B.S. degree in Physics from the University of Minnesota – Duluth . He then performed three years of graduate school in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities before obtaining his Doctorate in Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in the spring of 2001.
While in optometry school, Doctor Mattson was inducted into the Tomb & Key Optometric Honor Fraternity (based on character, leadership and success in optometric studies) and the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society (based on academic excellence). In addition, he received the Robert C Morrow Scholarship (based on professional promise and academic achievement), and the Exceptional Tudor Award (based on his efforts as a tutor and/or teaching assistant in the areas of sensory, color vision, binocular vision, biochemistry, and ophthalmic optics). Doctor Mattson also participated in vision screenings for inner city school children and vision awareness programs.
Doctor Mattson obtained clinical honors at the Illinois Eye Institute in low vision. He achieved honors during his externships in the treatment of Ocular Disease at the Wolfe Clinic ( Ames, IA ), Pediatric & Binocular Vision Disorders at the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute ( Rapid City, SD ), and in Primary Care at the VA Medical center (White River Junction, VT).
Doctor Mattson and his wife Chialing have enjoyed Madelynn (born 2005) and their newest addition Leo (born 2007). Dr. Mattson plays on a local fastpitch team. Doctor Mattson is excited to be back to Lakeville and the South Metro Area as his great great grandfather originally settled in Lonsdale, MN from what is now the Czech Republic. He still has family in the area to this day and has a particular penchant for Kolachke.
- Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a chronic condition that develops when your eyes do not produce and maintain enough tears to keep the eye’s surface lubricated.
- Dry Eye Syndrome, or DES, is a condition caused by a lack of naturally producing tears.
- Dry eyes can cause significant discomfort during the long winters and relief can seriously improve your quality of life.