What kinds of treatments are
available to combat dry eyes? Since I turned 55, my eyes have become
increasingly dry and sensitive.
Blinking Brenda
Dear Brenda,
Dry eye is a very common problem
that affects an estimated 16 million Americans. But you don’t have to just put
up with it. There are lifestyle adjustments and multiple treatment options
available to keep your eyes moist and healthy. Here’s what you should know.
Dry eye problems
Dry, red, burning, irritated
eyes are one of the most common reasons for visits to the eye doctor, but
discomfort isn’t the only problem of dry eyes. Light sensitivity and blurred or
fluctuating vision are common problems too, and worse yet, dry eyes are more
likely to get scratched or infected, which could damage your vision
permanently.
The reason people get dry eyes
are because they either don’t produce enough tears to keep their eyes properly
lubricated or because they produce poor quality tears.
In some cases dry eyes can be
triggered by medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, allergies,
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome. It also can be brought on
by age (tear production tends to diminish as we get older), eye conditions,
eyelid problems, certain medications, environmental factors, and even LASIK and
cataract surgery. Dry eyes also are more common in women, especially after
menopause.
Lifestyle adjustments
The first step experts recommend
in dealing with dry eyes is to check your lifestyle and surroundings for
factors that might be contributing to the problem and make these
adjustments:
—Avoid blowing air: Keep your eyes away from air vents, hair dryers, and oscillating and ceiling fans and consider buying a home humidifier.
—Blink more: When you’re reading, watching television, or using a smartphone, tablet or computer, take frequent breaks because these activities cause you to blink less often.
—Avoid irritants: Avoid smoke-filled places and if you swim, wear goggles to cut down exposure to chemicals.
—Use moisture chamber eyeglasses: These goggles/glasses wrap around the sides of your face to seal off your eyes from wind, dust and other drying irritants. These are available in many styles, and some in the Airshield collection from 7Eye.com can be made with prescription lenses.
—Check your meds: Dozens of prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, beta-blockers, antidepressants, tranquilizers and Parkinson’s medications can all cause dry eyes. If you’re taking any of these, ask your doctor about alternatives.
—Get more omega-3s: Studies show eating more fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (or take a supplement) helps some people.
Treatment options
If adjusting your environment
and habits doesn’t do the trick, there are a variety of OTC eye drops called
artificial tears, along with moisturizing gels and ointments that may help your
eyes feel better. If you experience a lot of burning, try another product or
opt for a preservative-free formula. Or if you have itchy, dry eyes, you may
get more relief from antihistamine eye drops, like olopatadine (Pataday) and
ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor), or decongestant eye drops, like
naphazoline/glycerin (Clear Eyes).
If the lifestyle and OTC
treatments don’t help, see an ophthalmologist. He or she can offer additional
advice and may prescribe a medication. There are several FDA-approved
medications for dry eye, like Restasis, Xiidra and Miebo.
If your dry eye is severe and
does not improve, you doctor might recommend some office procedures like
punctal plugs, thermal pulsation, meibomian gland expression and intense
pulsed light therapy. These procedures target the underlying causes of dry
eye such as meibomian gland dysfunction or tear drainage issues.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK
73070.
