ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions affecting around 20 million Americans. There are some simple ways to combat dry eyes.
Do you have red, irritated, and watery eyes?
“I was probably lubricating up to, maybe, 10 times a day.” says Bill Casey.
It could be dry eye – a condition that happens when you don’t produce enough tears, or you produce poor-quality tears. It can happen due to chronic computer use, contact lenses, hormonal changes, certain medications, or other illnesses.
Rolando Toyos, MD, Founder & CEO of Toyos Clinic says, “Any patient with any kind of systemic inflammatory disease, whether it’s rosacea, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, they’re more prone to having an inflammation of their tear film.”
But you can help ease dry eyes. First, try over-the-counter artificial tear drops. Next, take screen breaks. Try the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of screen time, look away at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. A gentle eye massage can also help. Try a warm compress. It may help stimulate glands to produce more tears. Add fish oil to your diet. And make sure you’re drinking enough water! A tear is made of 98 percent water and two percent oils, salt, and proteins. Lastly, an FDA approved light treatment called Optilight is also helping manage dry eye disease.
You might also want to try using a humidifier if you suffer from dry eyes. It adds moisture into the air and may ease symptoms caused by dryness.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863
https://advanceeyecarecenter.com/10-home-remedies-for-dry-eye-relief/
https://advanceeyecarecenter.com/10-home-remedies-for-dry-eye-relief/
HOME REMEDIES FOR DRY EYES
REPORT #3114
BACKGROUND: Dry eye means your eyes aren’t producing enough tears to keep them wet or your tears aren’t forming in the way they should, or they dry up too quickly. Dry eye can make your eyes feel unbearable and incite vision problems for some. Nearly 16 million Americans experience this condition every year. The symptoms of dry eye are clouded vision, light sensitivity, burning eyes, red eyes, and irritation. Dry eye can happen to anyone. But there are factors that raise the stakes for certain individuals. If you are female, 50 years of age or older, a contact lens wearer, lacking vitamin A, or live with an autoimmune condition (like Lupus) you are more susceptible to get dry eye. Individuals who frequently engage with electronics such as tablets, cellphones, and computers are also more likely to experience dry eye. If severe dry eye occurs and is left untreated, this can cause damage to the cornea (the clear outer layer of your eye).
DIAGNOSIS: Eye exams typically assess eye muscle movements, visual acuity, pupil responsiveness, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Several forms of digital technology are used to measure the health of the eye and its surrounding tissue. After the general eye exam is complete, the optometrist will then administer tests with a focus on the gauging of tear production and the quality of tears produced. This evaluation includes an inspecting of the eye lid, blink patterns, and environmental factors that may trigger dry eye. The information gathered from these tests are then used to determine whether dry eye is an appropriate prognosis and tailor a treatment plan to best serve the patient.
(Source: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye?sso=y)
NEW REGULATIONS: In October of 2021, Oyster Point Pharma was given clearance by the FDA to offer Varenicline for the treatment of dry eye disease. Varenicline is a nasal spray and works by inciting chemical neural stimulant through the nose. When the nose is stimulated through chemical means, the nasal mucosa (a tissue that lines the nasal cavity) increases tear production by activating the nasolacrimal reflex. The nasolacrimal reflex is a group of tissue around the eyes and nose that’s pivotal in the formation of tears and drainage. Clinical trials reported that after four weeks of use, almost 50% of patients had a Schirmer test score increase greater than 10mm; the Schirmer test measures tear production by placing a strip of filter paper in the lower eyelid. Those patients also displayed remarkable improvement in their symptoms of dry eye as well. The FDA has approved another dry eye medication that works to directly target evaporation. This drug is known as MIEBO and was created to treat meibomian gland dysfunction. MIEBO features EyeSol technology that keeps the eye drop centered on the eye for up to four hours, unlike traditional water-based drops that last 3-5 minutes.
(Sources: https://www.oraclinical.com/resource/right-between-your-eyes/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/chemical-stimulation
NEW TREATMENT PROVIDES RELIEF: A new treatment involves an intense pulse light therapy, or IPL, and can be performed in a doctor’s office and has been very effective. “Dry eye is a chronic condition and is fairly common,” says Natalie Klusaw, OD, Nebraska Medicine optometrist. “While it cannot be cured, it can be managed with IPL or other therapies, depending on the cause.” IPL is an outpatient procedure that uses selective light wavelengths to destroy abnormal blood vessels that cause inflammation. The light is converted to heat, which produces a warming effect. This improves the ability of the oil glands to express. It is recommended to have four treatments two to four weeks apart. Results can begin to be seen after the third treatment. Patients may need an additional treatment six to 12 months after the final treatment. The duration of symptom relief is hard to know as it can be affected by many variables in each patient.
* For More Information, Contact:
Audra Friis
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