Treating dry eyes early on may prevent these complications and allow you to address the root cause of this condition.ĭry eye disease usually affects both of your eyes. “Consequences of going without treatment for dry eye can range from irritation to permanent eye damage,” Brion emphasizes. Complications that may arise from dry eye include infection, vision loss, and reduced quality of life. Over time, dry eye can lead to inflammation that damages the surface of the affected eye. Often eyes can feel uncomfortable in windy conditions, places with low humidity, and areas that are air conditioned,” says Alyssa Brion, PA-C a physician assistant with Healthcare Associates of Texas. Dry eye can be a normal symptom experienced by many patients at some point in their life. adult population have been diagnosed with dry eye disease. Dry eyes often cause pain and discomfort, as well as a burning or stinging sensation. Taking steps to prevent and treat dry eyes can help you maintain healthy eyes and avoid permanently damaging your eyesight.Ĭontinue reading to learn more about the symptoms and causes of dry eye and relieving dry eyes should you develop this condition.ĭry eye occurs when you cannot produce enough tears, or the produced tears remain too poor in quality to properly lubricate your eyes. “The drawback is that the lenses can be cost prohibitive for some patients, and they can be challenging to fit for the practitioner.” However, a number of manufacturers now provide diagnostic lens fitting sets to aid in the fitting of scleral lenses, such as DigiForm Scleral (Truform Optics) and So2Clear Scleral (Art Optical).Dry eye disease is a common condition that can cause eye pain and gradually progress to impaired vision when not treated. “When fitted properly, the lenses can provide significant relief to the patient,” Dr. A scleral lens vaults the corneal surface, providing a bath of tears on the ocular surface. Scleral lenses provide another option for severe dry eye patients. “The key to this protection is a proper fit so the orbit is sealed sufficiently.” It’s possible to obtain these with a plano clear lens and it’s Rx-able as well,” Dr. “During the day, a good place to start would be a pair of sunglasses with seals, such as Eyessentials sunwear. In the absence of those conditions, night moisture chambers as well as daytime protection are useful. “If they answer that it’s a bad time for them, then it’s important to rule out other conditions such as blepharitis or Demodex mites, which can also cause discomfort at night or in the morning,” he says. He always makes sure to first ask patients how their eyes feel upon waking. They vault the corneal surface, providing a bath of tears on the ocular surface.Ī nighttime moisture chamber- such as Tranquileyes (Eye Eco), 7Eye (Panoptx) or Wiley X Climate Control (Wiley X Eyewear)-could be very helpful if you suspect nocturnal lagophthalmos, according to Douglas Devries, O.D., co-founder of Eye Care Associates of Nevada. Scleral lenses provide another option for patients with severe dry eye. “They consider any type of spectacles or goggles a crushing step backward in their quest to become less dependent on glasses.” In these cases, the patient might be more open to nighttime goggles. “I have found that refractive surgery patients will often reject this mode of treatment,” Dr. Any gaps between the pads and the eyes will make them less effective. The replaceable foam pads fit snugly across the orbit to trap the moisture around the eye. Moisture chamber goggles work well for a number of patients but must be fit properly to the eyes, Dr. “These patients will often seek second or third opinions before coming to this realization.” “This is often a mental adjustment for patients as they realize that there is not a ‘magic’ eye drop that is going to fix their problem,” says Eric Polk, O.D., clinical director of TLC Vision, in Chesterfield, Mo. ![]() At that point, you’ll want to begin considering alternative treatments. However, for some patients, these just aren’t enough. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations?Ī: When a patient presents with severe dry eye, most optometrists first will turn to the standard, tried-and-true therapies such as artificial tears, ointments, punctual plugs, cyclosporine or mild steroids. ![]() Traditional treatments have provided some success, but I’m also considering goggles or moisture chambers for nightwear and sometimes during the day. Q: I have several patients with severe dry eye.
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