Dry eye syndrome
Symptoms
- Sensation of dryness
- Reddened eyes
- Sticky eyelids after sleep
Diagnostics
Determined by a thorough eye examination
Treatment
- Moisturising eye drops
- Medicines to reduce inflammation
- Surgical treatment
What is dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or dry out too quickly, resulting in dry, red and irritated eyes. Although the syndrome can affect anyone, it has been estimated that one in three people over the age of 65 develop dry eye syndrome. It is also more common in women than men.
What are the symptoms of dry eye syndrome?
- Dryness, eyes “gritty”, soreness (symptoms worsen during the day);
- Red eyes;
- Sticky eyelids after sleep;
- Intermittent blurred vision, which usually improves with blinking.
More severe symptoms of dry eye syndrome include high sensitivity to light (photophobia), extremely red and painful eyes, and impaired vision.
If you experience any of these severe symptoms, it could be a sign of a serious complication. Contact an eye specialist or general practitioner immediately to get the right help.
What causes dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome can occur if your eyes stop producing their normal amount of tears. Tears are important for maintaining proper eye health. They help to moisten the eyes, prevent infections and remove dirt from the surface of the eyes.
Dry eye syndrome occurs when the production of tears is disturbed, or the tears dry too quickly, or there are problems with the outflow of tears, or the glands don’t produce the right amount of tears. This may be due to one or more of several causes:
- Being in a hot or windy environment;
- Wearing contact lenses;
- Certain health problems;
- Side effects of some medicines;
- Hormonal changes, for example during menopause.
How is dry eye syndrome diagnosed?
Dry eye syndrome can be detected by a thorough eye examination, which not only assesses the quantity and quality of tears produced. It also takes into account general health problems, medications taken and the cornea is examined under a cough lamp.
What help is available?
The treatment of dry eye syndrome is not complicated, the main thing is to find out what has caused the condition. The primary remedy for dry eyes is moisturising eye drops, preferably preservative-free. In addition, you can take the following steps:
- Don’t forget to blink regularly when reading or looking at a computer screen for long periods of time;
- Increase the humidity level in your home or workplace;
- Wear sunglasses that cover your eyes when outdoors
- If you wear contact lenses, take occasional breaks, e.g. change from contacts to glasses;
- Take food supplements that contain Omega-3;
- Avoid dehydration and increase fluid intake.
Take care of your eyes!
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Frequently asked questions
Is dry eye syndrome curable?
Dry eye syndrome can be temporary or chronic, so if the symptoms are caused by habitual or environmental factors that can be changed, the symptoms may disappear on their own.
What causes dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome usually develops as part of the natural ageing process, as well as as a result of certain diseases or as a side effect of medication.
Do moisturising eye drops help fight dry eye syndrome?
Thus, in dry eye syndrome, moisturising eye drops replace the missing elements of natural tears, thus protecting the eyes from dryness, external factors, irritation, dryness and irritation.
