HOW TO DIAGNOSE DRY EYE SYNDROME?

If you notice signs of eye dryness, you should contact a dry eye specialist for an official diagnosis. During the appointment, you can expect to answer questions about your symptoms, medical history and lifestyle factors. The dry eye doctor may also perform the following tests:

• Tear break-up time (TBUT) test: This test involves placing fluorescein dye in the eye. Once the dye spreads across your tear film, the dry eye specialist will time how long it takes for dry spots to appear. If it takes less than 10 seconds, you may have dry eye disease.
• Ocular surface staining: Like TBUT tests, this test involves putting dye into the eye. However, instead of measuring tears, it stains the eye to visualize the damage.
• Schirmer’s test: In this test, the dry eye doctor places small strips of paper under the lower eyelid to measure tear production. It determines the quantity of tears based on how wet the papers get.
• Tear osmolarity test: This test uses a specialized device to measure the salt concentration (osmolarity) of tear samples. Higher values are linked to eye dryness.

HOW TO PREVENT DRY EYE DISEASE?

When it comes to dry eye disease, it’s important not to ignore symptoms. Over time, eye dryness can lead to complications such as infections, scarring and corneal injuries. Here are some simple steps you can take to help prevent its effects:

• Limit screen time: Avoid staring at screens for prolonged periods of time. Try to follow the 20-20-20 rule—every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• Use a humidifier: Humidifiers keep your indoor air moist, which can assist with environmental-related eye dryness.
• Maintain a healthy diet: Consume ingredients that support eye health, such as omega-3 fatty acids. These can be found in fish, flaxseed and walnuts.
• Avoid pollutants: Limit your exposure to triggering environmental factors, such as smoke, dust and debris.
• Use artificial tears: Over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops can help restore and maintain moisture.
• Maintain eyelid hygiene: Regularly clean your eyelids to remove oil buildup or debris.
• Take supplements: Some supplements, such as vitamin B12 supplements, can increase tear production. Always consult your doctor before taking any new supplements.

HOW TO TREAT DRY EYE SYNDROME?

While lifestyle and environmental changes can help treat and prevent dry eye syndrome, they’re not always effective. Depending on your symptoms, you may need to combine these steps with professional solutions. At Palm Valley Eye, we offer the following dry eye treatments:

• Prescription eye drops: If OTC eye drops don’t help, you may benefit from prescription eye drops. Unlike OTC eye drops (which focus on symptom relief), prescription solutions treat the underlying cause of dry eye disease.
• Prescription oral medications: Some medications, such as cyclosporine, help combat eye dryness by reducing inflammation that blocks tear production.
• Punctal plugs: This treatment involves inserting tiny plugs into tear ducts to block tear drainage, which makes the tears remain on the surface of the eye.
• Punctal cautery: Punctal cautery uses heat to seal the tear ducts, which permanently blocks drainage. It’s usually only recommended if other treatments are ineffective.
• Amniotic membrane placement: Patients with damaged eye surfaces may benefit from amniotic membrane placement, a surgical procedure that uses donated amniotic tissue to encourage healing.
• Surgical corrections: Corrective surgeries can help fix eyelid abnormalities that affect tear distribution. In severe cases, patients may need tarsorrhaphy, a procedure that involves sewing eyelids together to reduce tear evaporation.