Download Dry Eye Awareness - Cockrell Eyecare Center

Dry Eye Disease
Over the last three decades our understanding of dry eye has evolved considerably. Dry eye is
no longer considered a disorder of the tear film, but an actual disease. Dry eye disease (DED)
is estimated to affect approximately 25 million Americans. It results in symptoms of discomfort,
visual disturbance and tear film instability. When the production of natural, healthy tears is
reduced, osmolarity of the eye will increase leading to Dry Eye Disease. Long term untreated
dry eye can cause serious damage to the front of the eye, particularly the cornea with a
potential for loss of vision.











Dry eye symptoms may include any of the following:
stinging or burning of the eye
a sandy or gritty feeling
episodes of excess tears following very dry eye periods
a stringy discharge from the eye
pain and redness of the eye
episodes of blurred vision
heavy eyelids
inability to cry when emotionally stressed
uncomfortable contact lenses
decreased tolerance of reading, working on the computer, or any activity that requires
sustained visual attention like driving or watching TV
eye fatigue
Steps you can take to reduce symptoms of dry eyes include: remembering to blink regularly
when reading or staring at a computer screen, increasing the level of humidity in the air at work
and at home, wearing sunglasses to reduce exposure to drying winds and sun, using nutritional
supplements containing essential fatty acids or omega three’s and finally by drinking plenty of
water and avoiding dehydration.
The good news is the treatment of DED continues to evolve and improve. Dry eye is unlike
treating an eye infection, where eye drops are used for a week and the problem resolves.
Managing dry eye and its symptoms is an ongoing process. The first priority is to determine if a
disease is the underlying cause of the dry eye such as Sjögren's syndrome or meibomian gland
dysfunction. If this is the case, then treating the underlying disease will be the initial approach.
Surprising to many patients, oral prescription medications are also a common cause of dry eye.
In fact, the top ten prescribed oral medications in the US cause dry eye. Many times alternative
drugs can be considered however, in some cases the necessity outweighs the side effect.
If contact lens wear is the problem, we may recommend another type of lens or reduce the
number of hours you wear your lenses. In the case of severe dry eye, you may have to
discontinue contact lenses all together. A recent development in contact lens technology has
resulted in a new category of lens material called “water gradient”. This lens material is
providing incredible comfort for contact lens wearers with dry eye. Patient’s who could never
tolerate contacts have been successful with Alcon’s DAILIES TOTAL 1 which were released in
June of 2013.
Treatment of DED can sometimes be as simple as adjusting an individual’s environmental
factors and using artificial tears 2-4 times a day. In other cases, steroids, gel drops, copious
lubrication and possibly plugging where tears drain out with punctal plugs is necessary. The
only topical prescription drug available to treat dry eye, cyclosporine, is sold under the name
Restasis. This anti-inflammatory drop works very well however, must be used for 2-3 months
before significant improvement is evident and then it must be continued indefinitely. Restasis
decreases corneal damage, increases tear production, and reduces symptoms of dry eye. To
determine the best course of action for your dry eye, evaluation by an Optometrist is necessary.
Self treating with over the counter artificial tears alone may lead to low grade chronic
inflammation and progression of Dry Eye Disease.
Cockrell Eyecare Center is proud to be an Accredited TearLab Dry Eye Center. If you think you
may have Dry Eye Disease and would like to be evaluated, please contact one of our offices in
Stillwater or Pawnee. Appointments can be made in Stillwater by calling 405-372-1715 or
Pawnee at 918-762-2573. We also invite you to visit our website at www.cockrelleyecare.com
and like us on Facebook at Cockrell Eye Care Center!