![]() Nicole Bajic, M.D. performs eye and eyelid surgery at the NCH Day Surgery Center. “We actually blink less when we’re focused on something, so staring at a computer screen all day means you’re lubricating your eye less,” says Dr. When working at a computer, follow the 20/20 rule: for every 20 minutes on the computer, take a 20-second break looking away from it.Don’t sleep in contacts, which also puts patients at risk for an infection that could cause vision loss.Don’t use eye drops claiming to remove redness.Avoid wearing an ill-fitting sleep apnea mask.Do not apply eyeliner to the waterline of the eye.Occasionally, prescription drops may be used to help patients make more tears.There are surgical procedures that can be done for severe cases.Some patients may benefit from having plugs placed into the tear “drains” of the eye to help collect more of their natural tears.Warm compresses can open up the oil glands along the eyelids so patients can make better quality tears.Patients can use baby shampoo to clean their eyelids and lashes.If people are using it more than that, or wear contact lenses, then I would encourage them to use preservative-free drops. Artificial tears can be used three or four times per day. ![]() If dry eye is severe, people can get scarring, which can obstruct vision. I use a special dye to assess the quality of this tear film and if exceptionally dry, the cornea will soak up this dye like a dry sponge. I then look at the tear film and cornea (the clear “windshield” of the eye). Next, I assess the eyelid margins for inflammation and significant blockages of the oil glands. I also assess for laxity that may contribute to overexposure of the eye. Some people do not close their eyelids completely, which can dry out their eyes while they sleep. On exam, I first look at their eyelids and how they function. Most often they report feeling grit in their eyes. Oftentimes, I am able to diagnose the patient just from listening to their symptoms. I would also avoid any drops claiming to “get the red out.” Although they may temporarily whiten the eyes, they dry the eye out in the long term. If this does not provide relief, I would recommend an eye exam for further evaluation. Yes, and over-the-counter artificial tears can provide significant relief for dryness or irritation of the eyes. It can be due to aging, hormonal changes, some medications or rosacea. This is due to blockages of the oil glands along the eyelid margins. In severe cases of this, it may be medically necessary to tighten the lower lids.Įvaporative dry eye is more common and tends to be from meibomian gland dysfunction or blepharitis (eyelid inflammation). Often the lower eyelid becomes lax with aging, which exposes the cornea and results in dry eye. It also may be due to overexposure of the eye. Prior eye surgery may also put you at risk, although this is most common with LASIK surgery. Tear deficiency also can be a sign of an autoimmune disease such as Sjogren’s syndrome. In some, it can become a vicious cycle.ĭry eye can be from a deficiency of oil in the tear film or a deficiency of the watery component of tears. The brain recognizes this and sends a signal to make more of these “poor quality” tears. If you don’t have enough oil due to blocked oil glands in the eyelids (which is extremely common), the tears will be poor quality and can evaporate too quickly. You need all three in order to have a proper tear. Our tears are composed of water, oil and mucus. Some people may even experience tearing, which may seem contradictory. ![]() Sometimes the only sign is blurred vision. ![]() Patients may feel like they have grit or sand inside their eyes. It does seem to often get worse during the winter, especially with people turning on the heat and not using a humidifier. It is one of the most common findings I see during an eye exam, and is often found even when patients have no symptoms at all.
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