Treating Dry Eye Syndrome

Around one in three people in the UK has dry eye syndrome, commonly referred to as dry eyes. Living with dry eye syndrome can be a struggle but thankfully, there are treatments available.

What causes dry eyes?

Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears that are produced are of poor quality and consequently, evaporate from your eyes too quickly.

Your tears are vital to helping your eyes stay lubricated as they form part of your tear film. This film is a layer of fluid that is always present on the surface of your eyes and is made up of three components:

• an oily outer layer
• a watery middle layer
• an inner mucus layer.

Each of these layers needs to be balanced for effective lubrication of your eyes. Consequently, one of the most common underlying causes of dry eyes is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) where the oily layer is disrupted.

Your meibomian glands are found along the edges of your eyelids and produce the oil that contributes to your tear film. In MGD, the glands become blocked, preventing the release of enough oil into your tear film. Bacteria are also involved in worsening MGD.

Risk factors for dry eyes

Several factors increase your risk of developing dry eyes. One of the biggest factors is age.

Your risk is also higher if you smoke, drink too much alcohol, take certain medications (e.g. certain antidepressants or blood pressure medication) or have certain medical conditions (e.g. blepharitis, lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome).

Wearing contact lenses and spending too long staring at digital screens also increases your risk. Symptoms are often worse in dry environments e.g. during the winter months or in air-conditioned or heated environments.

Symptoms of dry eyes

Dry eyes cause your eyes to feel itchy, sore, gritty and watery. Your eyes may also appear red and be more sensitive to light. Consequently, your vision may be blurred.

Treating dry eyes

At Petts Wood Eyecare, our dry eye treatments target both your symptoms and the underlying cause.
Our experienced opticians in Petts Wood can recommend lubricating eye drops to reduce your symptoms and can also provide you with Espansione LM® Low-level Light Therapy (LTT) to increase your tear production.

The LM LTT device, worn over your eyes, uses different frequencies of light to stimulate your cells to gently warm up. This helps eliminate bacteria and reduce inflammation, both of which help unblock your meibomian glands and improve tear production.

If you want to find relief from your dry eyes, book your dry eye consultation today online or by calling 01689 831726.