Dry eye disease (DED), also known as dry eye syndrome or dysfunctional tear syndrome, is a condition that involves the tears and the surface of your eyes. Your eye constantly produces tears which move across the surface of your eye, keeping it moist. People with DED either don’t produce enough tears or the tears they do produce evaporate off the eye surface too quickly to keep the eye moist. Some people with DED have both issues. Because of this, your eyes can feel dry and irritated.
DED is one of the most common conditions seen by optometrists. It affects up to 30% of those over the age of 50. Unfortunately, it is often underdiagnosed because many people believe that having dry eyes is a normal part of aging and that nothing can be done to prevent or treat it.
DED can result from not enough tear production, poor quality of tears causing evaporation from the eye surface, or a combination of both. If any part of the complex system that produces tears is not working properly, DED can result. As your eye dries, it can lead to inflammation on the surface of eye, making the symptoms of DED worse.
You may have a higher risk of having DED if you are: female, older than 40 years old, wear contact lenses, and have had eye surgery (including LASIK).
DED can also be caused by a variety of diseases, medications, and environmental factors.
Diseases that can cause DED include:
Certain medications such as some antidepressants, diuretics, beta blockers, anti-histamines, hormone replacement therapy, and retinoids can cause or worsen DED. Additionally, dry, windy, smoky, or cold air can cause eye dryness. Looking at a computer or other electronic device for long periods of time can also lead to DED.
Artificial tears, also called lubricants, are the main treatment for DED. They help to keep the eye moist and relieve the symptoms of DED, but they do not cure the condition. Artificial tears can also help to keep your tears from evaporating off the eye. For more severe symptoms of DED, you may need to use an ointment or gel, which can stay in your eyes longer. They can be purchased without a prescription from your local pharmacy. If you are using the eye drops more than 4 times a day, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for a preservative-free artificial tear to reduce the risk of side effects that can happen with excessive use.
If over-the-counter options are not enough to help with your DED symptoms, prescription medications may be needed. Anti-inflammatory and cyclosporine eye drops can be used to help reduce inflammation and help with the symptoms of DED. You should continue to use artificial tears while using these eye drops. Treatment and control of DED is important to prevent complications and worsening of the disease as people age.
To help relieve your dry eyes:
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Dry-Eye-Disease
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