DRY EYE SYMPTOMS & TREATMENT
Video transcription for hearing impaired
More than just a sign of emotion, tears are an important part of the healthy eye. Without an adequate film of tears on our eyes, sharp vision is not possible.
The tear film actually consist of three layers. An oily layer forms the outermost surface of the tear film, smoothing the tear surface and reducing the evaporation of tears. A water middle layer cleanses the eye and washes away foreign particles or irritants. An inner layer of mucous allows the watery layer to spread evenly over the surface of the eye and helps the eye remain moist.
For our eyes to be healthy, we need not only the correct quantity of tears, but the correct quality as well. If there’s an imperfection in any one of the tear film layers, then the quality of tears can be affected.
The eye has two different ways of making tears. It can make tears at a slow and steady rate to keep the eye moist and comfortable, or it can also make large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotion.
Sometimes our eyes do not make enough tears, but at other times the quality of the tears is not good enough to keep our eyes healthy and comfortable. These common occurrences lead to a condition called dry eye.
More than just a sign of emotion, tears are an important part of the healthy eye. Without an adequate film of tears on our eyes, sharp vision is not possible.
The tear film actually consist of three layers. An oily layer forms the outermost surface of the tear film, smoothing the tear surface and reducing the evaporation of tears. A water middle layer cleanses the eye and washes away foreign particles or irritants. An inner layer of mucous allows the watery layer to spread evenly over the surface of the eye and helps the eye remain moist.
For our eyes to be healthy, we need not only the correct quantity of tears, but the correct quality as well. If there’s an imperfection in any one of the tear film layers, then the quality of tears can be affected.
The eye has two different ways of making tears. It can make tears at a slow and steady rate to keep the eye moist and comfortable, or it can also make large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotion.
Sometimes our eyes do not make enough tears, but at other times the quality of the tears is not good enough to keep our eyes healthy and comfortable. These common occurrences lead to a condition called dry eye.
SYMPTOMS
Sometimes with this condition, the dryness irritates the eye and excessive tearing may occur. This is because the eye is overcompensating for the dryness by producing too much of the watery portion of the tear film. However, the oily and mucus portions of the tear film may also be deficient, which can actually cause the dryness.
Many people are perplexed when their doctor tells them that they have dry eye, yet what they see and feel is excessive tearing. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough tears, but that they don’t have the correct quality of tears.
For some people, dry eye can be a short term problem brought on by an environmental factor, such as smoke and wind. For others it can be a chronic long-term problem, requiring effective treatment so that vision or comfort is not affected.
Symptoms of dry eye include:
Many people are perplexed when their doctor tells them that they have dry eye, yet what they see and feel is excessive tearing. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough tears, but that they don’t have the correct quality of tears.
For some people, dry eye can be a short term problem brought on by an environmental factor, such as smoke and wind. For others it can be a chronic long-term problem, requiring effective treatment so that vision or comfort is not affected.
Symptoms of dry eye include:
- Stinging or bearing eyes
- Scratchiness
- Excessive tearing
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Excessive eye irritation from smoke or wind
- Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
- Brief or ongoing blurring of vision that may change with each blink
CAUSES
Chronic dry eye can be caused by a number of things. Age is one common factor sense tear production normally decreases as we get older. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, woman are most often affected—especially after menopause.
Another common cause of dry eye symptoms is the use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as:
Certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases may also cause dry eyes and dry mouth. One common autoimmune condition is called Shogren syndrome. Other culprits of dry eye symptoms may include blepharitis or rosacea, eyelid problems that affect the outer oily layer of the tear film, causing natural tears to evaporate too quickly from the eye.
Other more rare diseases my also affect the inner mucus layer of the tear film by preventing the natural tear film from from staying on the eye.
Your ophthalmologist is usually able to tell if you have dry eye by examining your eyes. Sometimes test that measure tear production are necessary. One test, called the Schirmer tear test, involves placing filter paper strips under the lower eyelids to measure the rate of tear production under various conditions.
Another test uses a diagnostic eye drop to look for certain patterns and dryness on the surface of the eye.
Patient interview: I was first diagnosed with dry eye fiver or six years ago, but I really thing I had it years before that. My eyes were bothering me but I didn’t put 2 and 2 together. So I never even mentioned it to the ophthalmologist, and finally when I did, then he diagnosed me with dry eyes.
Another common cause of dry eye symptoms is the use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as:
- Anxiety medications
- Sleeping pills
- Antihistamines
- Pain relievers
- Diuretics (for high blood pressure or fluid retention)
- Beta-blockers (for heart disease or high blood pressure)
Certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases may also cause dry eyes and dry mouth. One common autoimmune condition is called Shogren syndrome. Other culprits of dry eye symptoms may include blepharitis or rosacea, eyelid problems that affect the outer oily layer of the tear film, causing natural tears to evaporate too quickly from the eye.
Other more rare diseases my also affect the inner mucus layer of the tear film by preventing the natural tear film from from staying on the eye.
Your ophthalmologist is usually able to tell if you have dry eye by examining your eyes. Sometimes test that measure tear production are necessary. One test, called the Schirmer tear test, involves placing filter paper strips under the lower eyelids to measure the rate of tear production under various conditions.
Another test uses a diagnostic eye drop to look for certain patterns and dryness on the surface of the eye.
Patient interview: I was first diagnosed with dry eye fiver or six years ago, but I really thing I had it years before that. My eyes were bothering me but I didn’t put 2 and 2 together. So I never even mentioned it to the ophthalmologist, and finally when I did, then he diagnosed me with dry eyes.
TREATMENT
Treating dry eye is generally accomplished with by three methods, adding tears, conserving tears, and preventing tear evaporation. To add tears, eyedrops called artificial tears are used. Similar to your own natural tears these drops lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture. Artificial tears are available without a prescription, and you can use them as often as you need them, once or twice a day, or even several times an hour.
There are many brands on the market, so you may want to try a few of them to find the one you like best. Some people may be sensitive to the preservatives in artificial tears—preservative free eye drops are available. Also, if you need to use artificial tears more than every 2 to 4 hours, preservative-free brands may be better for you.
Your ophthalmologist may be able to prescribe you an eye drop medication containing an anti-inflammatory, such as cyclosporine. This medication helps to restore not only the right quantity of tears, but also the correct quality of the different tear films. Saving your eye’s own tears is another approach to keeping the eyes moist.
Tears drain out of the eye though a tiny opening of the tear ducts on the eyelid margin called the puncta, then though a small channel into the nose. This is why your nose runs when you cry. Your ophthalmologist may recommend closing off the puncta, either temporarily or permanently, using tiny puncta plugs.
Puncta plugs can be inserted into the lower eyelid, the upper eyelid, or in both eyelids. Using puncta plugs may save your own tears from draining away, and helps artificial tears last longer.
Patient interview: My ophthalmologist recommended that I use the artificial tears hourly and a hot washcloth on my eyes for 15 minutes a night, and said that in the future, if that doesn’t work and I’m not happy with it, he would consider puncta plugs.
Tears evaporate like another other liquid, but you can take steps to stop the evaporation. First, a person with dry eye should stay away from anything that causes dryness, like very warm rooms, hair dryers, wind and smoking.
When the indoor heat is on, keep a humidifier or ban of wanter in the room to add moisture to dry air. When your exposed to the elements, such as wind and sunlight, wear wrap-around glasses to reduce the drying effect of the wind and light.
Some people with dry eye complain that their eyes feel scratchy when the wake up. The symptom can be treated by using an artificial tear ointment or gel eye drops at bedtime.
Finally, for some people with blepharitis or rosacea, your ophthalmologist may prescribe an antibiotic ointment, warm eyelid compresses, and/or lid hygiene to relieve your symptoms.
Patient interview: What the ophthalmologist recommended certainly seem to work the first month I did it. When I use the artificial tears, I think that helps a lot. I think the washcloth helps a lot. It’s certainly better than when I don’t.
While it is a common and uncomfortable condition, dry eye does not have to interfere with your lifestyle. Talk with your ophthalmologist about treatment options.
There are many brands on the market, so you may want to try a few of them to find the one you like best. Some people may be sensitive to the preservatives in artificial tears—preservative free eye drops are available. Also, if you need to use artificial tears more than every 2 to 4 hours, preservative-free brands may be better for you.
Your ophthalmologist may be able to prescribe you an eye drop medication containing an anti-inflammatory, such as cyclosporine. This medication helps to restore not only the right quantity of tears, but also the correct quality of the different tear films. Saving your eye’s own tears is another approach to keeping the eyes moist.
Tears drain out of the eye though a tiny opening of the tear ducts on the eyelid margin called the puncta, then though a small channel into the nose. This is why your nose runs when you cry. Your ophthalmologist may recommend closing off the puncta, either temporarily or permanently, using tiny puncta plugs.
Puncta plugs can be inserted into the lower eyelid, the upper eyelid, or in both eyelids. Using puncta plugs may save your own tears from draining away, and helps artificial tears last longer.
Patient interview: My ophthalmologist recommended that I use the artificial tears hourly and a hot washcloth on my eyes for 15 minutes a night, and said that in the future, if that doesn’t work and I’m not happy with it, he would consider puncta plugs.
Tears evaporate like another other liquid, but you can take steps to stop the evaporation. First, a person with dry eye should stay away from anything that causes dryness, like very warm rooms, hair dryers, wind and smoking.
When the indoor heat is on, keep a humidifier or ban of wanter in the room to add moisture to dry air. When your exposed to the elements, such as wind and sunlight, wear wrap-around glasses to reduce the drying effect of the wind and light.
Some people with dry eye complain that their eyes feel scratchy when the wake up. The symptom can be treated by using an artificial tear ointment or gel eye drops at bedtime.
Finally, for some people with blepharitis or rosacea, your ophthalmologist may prescribe an antibiotic ointment, warm eyelid compresses, and/or lid hygiene to relieve your symptoms.
Patient interview: What the ophthalmologist recommended certainly seem to work the first month I did it. When I use the artificial tears, I think that helps a lot. I think the washcloth helps a lot. It’s certainly better than when I don’t.
While it is a common and uncomfortable condition, dry eye does not have to interfere with your lifestyle. Talk with your ophthalmologist about treatment options.

Johnn123 • 7 days ago
It's hard to say what exactly the problem is without seeing it, but warm compresses can improve stys when they first occur. After that, the warm compress may not help much after the redness goes away.
It's hard to say what exactly the problem is without seeing it, but warm compresses can improve stys when they first occur. After that, the warm compress may not help much after the redness goes away.

Bat Masterson • 7 days ago
I have a sty on the top of my eyelid and it turned into a knot. It never really went away, it just got smaller. But recently its gotten bigger and its kind of sore but only when I touch it. And its been here for 2 or 3 months. Please tell me what to do.
I have a sty on the top of my eyelid and it turned into a knot. It never really went away, it just got smaller. But recently its gotten bigger and its kind of sore but only when I touch it. And its been here for 2 or 3 months. Please tell me what to do.

David Lundquist • 2 weeks ago
If a chalazion has been present for about a year, it is unlikely to go away with warm compresses and eyelid scrubbing / massage. Sometimes we can see changes in the oil glands with hormone changes as with pregnancy. It may require a procedure to remove the chalazion, but an eye doctor could let you know for sure after seeing it.
If a chalazion has been present for about a year, it is unlikely to go away with warm compresses and eyelid scrubbing / massage. Sometimes we can see changes in the oil glands with hormone changes as with pregnancy. It may require a procedure to remove the chalazion, but an eye doctor could let you know for sure after seeing it.

Mike435 • 2 weeks ago
I’ve had a chalazion (or stye I’m not sure) for almost a year on my upper eye lid. I’ve never had a stye, this is the first time I had anything like this. I got it while I was pregnant (not sure if that has anything to do with it). I have yet to make it to a doctor, what can i try at home to test if it will go away before i consider surgery.
I’ve had a chalazion (or stye I’m not sure) for almost a year on my upper eye lid. I’ve never had a stye, this is the first time I had anything like this. I got it while I was pregnant (not sure if that has anything to do with it). I have yet to make it to a doctor, what can i try at home to test if it will go away before i consider surgery.

Eric Bacon • 1 months ago
A chalazion removal procedure involves cutting the eyelid to drain the chalazion. I have heard of steroid injections into the chalazion to help improve them, but have not done this myself. Other than that, I can't think of any other ways to deal with them other then surgically.
A chalazion removal procedure involves cutting the eyelid to drain the chalazion. I have heard of steroid injections into the chalazion to help improve them, but have not done this myself. Other than that, I can't think of any other ways to deal with them other then surgically.

Jessica Parnell • 1 months ago
I have four chalazions, one since over a year now. They began as a stye. They won't go away. Is there a way i can get rid of it without going to the doctors?
I have four chalazions, one since over a year now. They began as a stye. They won't go away. Is there a way i can get rid of it without going to the doctors?

Derik Snowdan • 1 months ago
Can I just use a pin to pop my chalazion? I would really like to get this to burst so my eye will return to normal.
Can I just use a pin to pop my chalazion? I would really like to get this to burst so my eye will return to normal.

LoveMyCat• 1 months ago
The inside of a chalazion mostly looks like oily pus from the blocked oil gland. Since the chalazion is usually on the inside I don't think a pin will help it, and I wouldn't recommend that as it could be dangerous and a risk for serious infection. Furthermore, the inside of the eyelid is extremely sensitive to pain.
The inside of a chalazion mostly looks like oily pus from the blocked oil gland. Since the chalazion is usually on the inside I don't think a pin will help it, and I wouldn't recommend that as it could be dangerous and a risk for serious infection. Furthermore, the inside of the eyelid is extremely sensitive to pain.