A GOOD CRY CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR EYES!

Tears have numerous functions – they are the emotional response to certain situations, a reflex response to strong fragrances or fumes, but most importantly, they maintain clear vision and comfort by providing moisture and lubrication to the eyes.

With each blink of the eyelids, tears are spread across the front surface of the eye, known as the cornea. Tears are made up of water for moisture, oils for lubrication, mucous for even spreading, and antibodies and special proteins for resistance to infection. Each of these components is produced by different glands within the eyes. Excess tears in the eyes flow into small drainage ducts in the inner corners of the eyelids, which drain in the back of the nose.

Dry eye is a condition in which there are insufficient tears, the tears are of a poor quality, or there is an improper balance between tear production and drainage. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Dry eye symptoms may appear suddenly or gradually, and can last for hours or days. They may range from mildly irritating to extremely uncomfortable. Common dry eye symptoms include discomfort or eye pain, light sensitivity, a gritty sensation in the eye, redness, swollen eyes, eye fatigue, itchy eyes, blurring of vision and eyelid twitching.

Sometimes, a person with dry eyes will have excess tears, which may seem confusing. This happens when the eye isn't getting enough lubrication, and sends a distress signal through the nervous system for more lubrication. To try to compensate for the underlying dryness, the eye is flooded with tears. However, these tears are mostly water and do not have the lubricating qualities or the rich composition of normal tears, and will not coat the eye surface adequately.

Causes of Dry Eyes

In addition to an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye, dry eyes can have many causes. These include:

• The natural aging process
• Side effects of certain drugs such as antihistamines, antidepressants, and birth control pills
• Certain chronic medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and vascular diseases
• Structural problems with the eyelids that don't allow them to close properly
• Hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, and menopause
• Environmental conditions, such as exposure to smoke, wind and dry climates, air conditioning and heating
• Failure to blink regularly, such as when looking at a computer screen for long periods of time
• Long term use of contact lenses
• Refractive eye surgeries, such as LASIK, can cause decreased tear production and dry eyes.

Diagnosis of Dry Eyes

External examination of the eye, including lid structure and blink dynamics

Evaluation of the eyelids and cornea

Measurement of the quantity and quality of tears - special dyes may be instilled in the eyes to better observe tear flow and to highlight any changes to the outer surface of the eye caused by insufficient tears.

Treatment of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can be a chronic condition, but your optometrist can prescribe treatment to keep your eyes healthy, more comfortable, and prevent your vision from being affected. The primary approaches used to manage and treat dry eyes include adding tears, conserving tears, increasing tear production, and treating the inflammation of the eyelids or eye surface that contributes to the dry eyes.

Adding tears – Mild cases of dry eyes can often be managed using over-the-counter artificial tear drops. These can be used as often as needed to supplement natural tear production, and can be used even when the eyes are not uncomfortable, to maintain lubrication. Preservative-free artificial tear solutions are recommended because they contain fewer additives that could further irritate the eyes. Usually, one needs to experiment to find the most suitable drops, as no one eye drop works for everyone.

Conserving tears – Sometimes it is necessary to close the ducts that drain tears from the eyes, in order to keep natural tears in the eyes longer. The tear ducts can be blocked with tiny plugs that may dissolve or can be removed, if necessary. A surgical procedure to permanently close tear ducts is sometimes performed.

Increasing tear production – Prescription eye drops that help to increase production of tears can be recommended by your optometrist. There is growing evidence that oral supplements such as fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in dealing with dry eyes.

Treatment of the contributing eyelid or ocular surface inflammation – Prescription eye drops or ointments, warm compresses and lid massage, or eyelid cleaners may be recommended to help decrease inflammation around the surface of the eyes.

Prevention of Dry Eyes

While the condition cannot be prevented, there are certain life-style steps that can be taken to reduce the symptoms of dry eyes.

Blink regularly.

Use a humidifier, to increase the level of humidity in the air at work and at home.

Avoid over-the-counter eye drops that contain preservatives.

Increase your intake of vitamins A and C by making sure your diet consists of many green, leafy vegetables, fish, nuts, citrus fruits, and vegetables.

Ask your optometrist if dietary supplements would be helpful for your dry eye condition.

Take "eye breaks" if you are reading or staring at a computer for a long time. Gently close your eyes for twenty seconds every twenty minutes.

Protect your eyes from UV rays and wind by wearing sunglasses, even in winter.

Position computer screens below eye level to allow your eyelids to cover more of your eyes instead of keeping them wide open, as they are when you are looking up.

Avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking plenty of water each day.

Do not ignore symptoms of dry eyes.