What is dry eye syndrome?
Dry eyes syndrome is the condition of having dry eyes. Dry eye happens when the eye does not produce enough tears, or when the tears from the front surface of the eye evaporate too fast. Long term lack of sufficient moisture on the surface causes the eye to remain dry out.
A study done in Singapore by Tan et al. (2015) revealed the prevalence of symptomatic dry eye between age 15 to 83 is 12.3%!
What causes dry eyes?
Dry eye occurs when there is a lack of adequate tears.
The tear film is made up of 3 components (oil, water, mucus), a mixture which smooths out the surface of the eye and protects it from infection.
- Outer layer (oil): keeps tears from evaporating too fast
- Middle layer (water): to nourish the eyes and wash away particles and irritants.
- Inner layer (mucus): ensure that the eye remains wet.
Problems with any of the layers can lead to instability of the tear film, causing eye health and vision to be compromised. Vision may be affected because tears play an important role in focusing light.
Who are at risk?
Dry eyes can be the result of one or several factors, such as:
- Age, as tears production decreases as we age.
- Certain types of medications such as antihistamines, birth control pills, antidepressants
- Long term contact lens wear
- Refractive surgeries such as LASIK
- Ocular conditions such as incomplete closure of eyelids, causing eye to be exposed.
- Immune system disorders including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disorders and vitamin A deficiency.
- Environmental factors including wind, smoke or dry air
- Not blinking enough, tends to happen when you are concentrating on a task
What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
- Dryness sensation
- Watery eyes
- Stinging, burning or itchy sensation
- Blurred vision
- Eye fatigue
- Feeling of something in your eye
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Complications due to Dry Eye Syndrome
- Increased risk of eye infections
- Damage to surface of eyes, especially in long term
- Decreased quality of life, as dry eyes may cause difficulty in performing daily activities such as reading.
Treatments and preventive measures
Common treatments for dry eyes include:
- Lifestyle changes: Avoid air blowing into your eyes, reduce exposure to aircon, take enough eye breaks and have a balanced diet with sufficient Omega 3 lipid components.
- Reducing contact lenses wear
- Use unidose eye drops as they are preservative-free
United Eyecare’s Dry Eye Kit includes:
- Unidose Eye Drops
- Eye Supplements
- Lid Wipes
- One pouch
