What is Dry Eye?

Dry Eyes and Tearing

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eyes can occur when there is too little aqueous (salt water) tear production and/or too rapid tear evaporation. When the lacrimal gland fails to produce enough tears, the surface of your eye dries out and often causes burning, stinging, and a sandy or gritty sensation. Artificial tears and lubricating ointments may help relieve dry eye symptoms. If these lubricants do not help, closing the tear drain may be helpful. If the lacrimal gland is working properly, but your tears do not drain through the tear duct because it is blocked, your eye may feel watery and tears may even overflow onto your cheek. In some cases, you may be able to simply apply warm compresses and use antibiotic drops. Rapid tear evaporation is believed to be the result of a chronic, low-grade inflammation of the eyelids and particular oil-producing glands in the lids – the most likely culprit in the majority of dry eye cases. Frantz EyeCare is one of only a handful of practices in Florida to intensively focus on this important issue and devote the personnel, resources, and wide array of advanced treatments to offer effective management of this problem to our patients.

When managing a patient’s dry eye complaint, we must first identify the type of dry eye you are experiencing (meibomian gland dysfunction, aqueous deficiency, allergy-related, contact lens-related, or blepharitis related). We utilize several tools necessary to properly diagnose and distinguish between the types of dry eye.

Tear Osmolarity Test

Frantz EyeCare is certified by TearLab as an “Accredited Dry Eye Center”. Certification indicates that Frantz EyeCare has demonstrated expertise and dedication to the most advanced technologies and treatments in the management of dry eye disease. Our team of doctors have extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease.

This test is the latest technology in diagnosing and analyzing the Osmolarity (salt content) of your tears. With the TearLab Osmolarity test, our doctors can measure and assess the health and stability of your tear film.

Treatment is prescribed based on the measurements from the TearLab. Treatments range from Omega 3 supplements, tear replacement drops, punctal plugs, anti-inflammatory drops, oral antibiotics and prescription strength artificial tears.

Some of the symptoms of dry eye disease include:

• Redness
• Burning
• Itching
• Fluctuation in vision
• Feeling of sand or grit in the eye
• Contact Lens discomfort
• Light Sensitivity
• Watery eyes
• Tired eyes

Causes of Dry Eye

The lacrimal glands, located behind the upper eyelids, produce tears that moisten our eyes. When we blink, the eyelids spread a film of fresh tears across the eye and pump excess tears into the nasolacrimal duct or tear drain. Without this mechanism working correctly, dry eyes become a chronic problem.

When the lacrimal gland fails to produce enough tears, the surface of your eye dries out and often causes burning, stinging, and a sandy or gritty sensation. Artificial tears and lubricating ointments may help relieve dry eye symptoms. If these lubricants do not help, closing the tear drain may be helpful or in extreme cases surgery may be required to protect your eye.

If the lacrimal gland is working properly, but your tears do not drain through the tear duct because it is blocked, your eye may feel watery and tears may even overflow onto your cheek. In some cases, you may be able to simply apply warm compresses and use antibiotic drops; but often, surgery to relieve the obstruction is the most effective treatment.

Meibomian Gland Disorder (MGD)

Lipid layer testing and blink assessment. The LipiView system evaluates your blink rate and measures lipid layer thickness. The lipid layer is important to keep the ocular surface smooth and comfortable. Patients who do not blink completely are often surprised by test results that demonstrate the incomplete blink. Measurements from the system give us objective “hard evidence” of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and further allow us to see if treatment is improving the condition of your ocular surface. The ocular surface relies on the oil in the tears to keep it wet and smooth for the blink. As the meibomian glands clog, they can become damaged. The longer they are clogged, the more damage occurs and eventually the gland structure can become atrophied.

MGD is a chronic abnormality of the meibomian glands, commonly characterized by terminal duct obstruction and/or changes in the glandular secretion. Patients with MGD can benefit from mechanical expression of blocked meibomian glands using the innovative LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System. LipiFlow is the only FDA-cleared device for removing gland blockages and restoring gland function. The treatment utilizes heat applied to the inner eyelids and massage to remove the obstructions in your meibomian glands. Research shows significant improvement in both the number of meibomian glands yielding clear liquid and patient-reported dry eye symptoms among patients treated with LipiFlow.

Blepharitis Treatment

Blepharitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the eyelids, is evident in many patients who have dry eye. We can use an in-office procedure called BlephEx that exfoliates the eyelids while removing scurf and debris. With BlephEx a mechanical device scrubs the lids at the lash line, a deeper cleaning than you can do at home.

If you think you are suffering from the above symptoms, be sure to mention any dry eye concerns at your next visit so you can experience the Dry Eye Center of Excellence.

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