Dry Eye

WHat is Dry EYE?

Dry eye is a general term for conditions where the eyes burn, itch, or are constantly irritated due to the lack of moisture to the cornea, the clear layer in the front of the eye. Dry eyes can be debilitating, as the cornea is the most highly innervated structure of the body (over 600 nerve endings per square millimeter!) and dry spots on the cornea can expose these nerves. Many times, dry eye patients feel like there is “sand” or “rocks” in the eye, experience blurry vision that gets better with lubrication and blinking, and feel like this condition takes a huge toll on their quality of life.

I like to separate dry eye into two categories: those who make tears yet have dry eyes and those who don’t make tears (even emotional tears). The treatment algorithm is completely different so this is an important distinction to make.

I have mild dry eye Symptoms. What should I do?

Dry eye is very common and affects millions of Americans. If you have mild, non-debilitating dry eye, you might want to try some over-the-counter artificial tears for symptomatic relief. I like to recommend “Preservative-Free” eye drops that come in individual vials, since preservatives that are in eye drop bottles can actually make things worse in the long run.

Sometimes, using a warm compress/towel or a gel mask may help your dry eye symptoms if you make tears and have a mild form of meibomian gland dysfunction, a condition where you make tears but lack the outer oily layer of tears that prevent evaporation. Please check the temperature of the compress/mask before putting it on your eye with the back of your wrist to make sure you don’t burn yourself!

Visine, or any product that promises to “Get the Red Out,” is not a recommended treatment for dry eye and can actually make your condition worse.