Dry-eye symptoms trouble a large share of people every day and cause real discomfort. Patients often face persistent burning, a foreign-body sensation (“sand” in the eyes), redness, itching, even brief blurring of vision or, paradoxically, watery eyes.
Three levels of the problem
To understand dry eye, it helps to know that the tear film protecting the eye can be disturbed on three levels.
- Quantity
- When the eye does not produce enough tears.
- Quality
- When tears are produced normally but evaporate too fast because of their poor composition.
- Mixed
- A combination of the two.
The role of blepharitis
Blepharitis — chronic inflammation of the eyelids — is the main cause of poor tear quality, because it blocks the glands that produce the essential oily layer. Functional or anatomical problems of the eyelids, such as ectropion, also often speed up evaporation, as they prevent the tear film from spreading properly over the surface of the eye.
Modern life — and treatment
Modern life makes things considerably worse. Long hours in front of screens, frequent air-conditioning, too little hydration and daily stress dry the eyes and intensify the discomfort. At the practice a detailed examination identifies the exact nature of the problem, so the doctor can recommend the right individual treatment and restore the comfort and health of your eyes.