Eyeglasses



Lindy Eye Care lindyeyecare@

Drs. Craig and Cosenza 631-226-2020

What is Dry Eye?

It sounds like a very easy question, but dry eye is an extremely common, complex and potentially sight-threatening disease. Did I say, “disease”? Yes, Dry Eye Syndrome affects the quality of life of many millions of Americans every day of their lives.

The balance of factors that go into a healthy tear layer are basically threefold:

1) A lipid (oily) layer which covers the tears to prevent excess evaporation

2) A watery layer which contains nutrients and immune cells for the cornea

3) A mucous layer which helps the tears to spread evenly across the eye

Layer 1), above, is produced primarily by glands in the eyelids; the oils are pumped out of the eyelid with each blink and spread atop the tears. If there are blockages or infection of the eyelids (very common, especially in children), the lack of an oily coating will cause the tears to evaporate too quickly, causing dryness. Some new eyedrops, such as Soothe, are designed specifically to replenish this oily coating. It is also essential to keep the natural flow of oils maximized, primarily by keeping the lids free of debris (with lid scrubs), by enhancing oil flow (with hot compresses), and, if needed, with the help of oral medications to improve the oil layer structure. Nutrition, including omega 3 oils, also help maintain a healthy lipid tear layer.

Layer 2), above, is produced by the lacrimal gland, which is located just above the eyes. This gland is subject to inflammation, which reduces its effectiveness. There are now, for the first time, medications to relieve this inflammation and restore the natural tear flow. First, though, we attempt to provide eyedrops that improve the natural balance of nutrients to the tears, such as the lubricant Theratears. Drinking adequate amounts of water is a part of providing a healthy watery tear layer, as well. If the volume of tears is still not adequate, a removable “plug” can be inserted in your tear duct to reduce the drainage and allowing for increased tear retention.

Layer 3), above, is produced primarily by cells on the surface of the eye and eyelids. The problem here, of course, is that as dry eye progresses, these cells are damaged, resulting in less of the mucous, creating tear “dry spots” across the eye. This cycle must be broken to prevent its going out of control. One lubricant, Systane, is designed to replenish the mucous-layer function of the tears.

With dry eye, the “washing” effect of the tears is reduced, as are the immune cells, so infections, allergies and inflammation are more likely. This disease spreads to all parts in and around the eye, reducing all 3 layers above. And all because of a very common, very treatable condition … that might just take a simple eye examination to diagnose and eliminate! So, why suffer? Call if you have any questions about dry eye.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download