RETHINKING DRY EYE

One of the most common symptoms I hear in clinic is regarding dry eyes. And when I tell my patients “Your eyes are watering because you have dry eyes”, I get the ‘deer caught in headlights’ look! Unfortunately, this is only one of many symptoms of dry eye disease. Dr. Amin’s approach to the treatment of dry eyes is simple and effective but it all starts from exploring different methods of healing this disease from the inside out while following a specific treatment plan. After all, your eyes are a part of your body. Read on to learn how it all starts with YOU!

THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION AND NUTRITION

Dehydration can cause a list of ailments and symptoms that are very similar to disease when simply drinking enough water can eliminate these symptoms. Dehydration can cause thirst, fatigue, decreased urination, headache, dizziness, and even DRY EYES! The average person should be drinking 10-8 ounce glasses of water daily.

Nutrition starts with a healthy plant-heavy diet involving the consumption of nutrient-dense plant foods while minimizing processed foods. Plant-based foods are nature’s way of giving us sun-powered health in a delicious, ready-to-eat form while reducing the onset of inflammation and eventually disease.

INFLAMMATION IS A BIG DEAL!

98% of disease in some form of inflammation, so battling inflammation is a key component to battling dry eye and other disease. Dry eye is a multifactorial disease that includes ocular surface inflammation and damage. Ways to reduce inflammation include a plant-heavy diet, probiotics, omega-3 rich foods or supplementation, and a multivitamin. Vitamins that have antioxidant properties that are vital for preserving tear stability and eye health include A, B-complex, D and D3, C, and E.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU BLINK!

Did you know that the average American blinks 75% less than normal?!? Sad, but true, we are all looking at a screen most of the day…like right now! Breaks are vital during prolonged screen time and the 20-20-20 rule should be implemented regularly: take a break every 20 minutes to look 20 feet away or further for 20 seconds.

Ever heard of Blink exercises? Try this to improve your blink rate!

Close-Pause-Pause-Open-Relax. Without squeezing, gently close your eyes. Pause and keep your eyes closed for 2 seconds. Gently open your eyes and relax them. ...
Close-Pause-Pause-Squeeze-Open-Relax. Without squeezing, gently close your eyes. Pause and keep your eyes closed for 2 seconds.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated throughout the day! (see article 1)

STOP STRESSING AND GET TO BED!

Everything causes some kind of stress on the body. Stress’s effects on the blood and circulatory system are what is thought to cause dry eyes. There are many methods to relieving stress including meditation and exercise. Outdoor activity has a tremendous benefit to not only the body but also to dry eyes. Vit D has shown to inhibit the inflammatory cascade, therefore reducing inflammation! Lower quantities of Vit D effect tear function that needs vitamins to function properly. So get outside…and don’t forget to wear those sunglasses!

Sleep is vital for basic function. Getting sufficient sleep (7-8 hours) has many benefits including getting less sick, better performance throughout the day, and reducing stress on the body. Avoiding screens, even with blue blocking capabilities is necessary to allow proper sleep 3 hours before bed. Turning fans and vents away from you since the constant breeze will cause dryness in your eyes. If you choose to sleep with the fan on, try a sleep mask at night!

EYE BUGS!

Our eyelids are more complex than they appear with the naked eye. Your eyelids contain millions of bacteria living on the surface that help your eyelids in a normal state. There are many glands that secrete oils and tears on to your eyes to keep them comfortable. If any of this becomes disrupted, dry eyes and eyelids can lead to irritation, inflammation, redness, and more uncomfortable situations. Many of these disorders are better known as Blepharitis, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), Ocular Rosacea, and Demodex infestation.

These disorders are more common than you think! Dr. Amin will do a full assessment and recommend a treatment plan for you. Read on to learn about some of them.

LID HYGIENE

Clean lids are key to dry eye management. Keeping your eyelids free of debris, bacteria, demodex mites, ocular rosacea, MGD, and more will lead to reduced dry eye symptoms. CLEANER EYELIDS MEAN FEWER DRY EYE SYMPTOMS. Therefore an eyelid hygiene regimen that is performed twice daily is recommended, like brushing your teeth to prevent cavities.

A good eyelid hygiene regimen involves lid and lash cleansers, a good oil-free makeup remover, warm compresses followed by lid massage, and preservative eye drops. Treatment plans are specific to the individual and will be customized accordingly by Dr. Amin.

TO EYEDROP, OR NOT TO EYEDROP?

Eyedrops have their place in dry eye management. In addition to the lifestyle measures that need to be implemented, eye drops and therapy are still the mainstay of dry eye disease, depending on the severity. A preservative eye drop is usually recommended by Dr. Amin to prevent further toxicity to the ocular surface. Prescription eye drops are prescribed for more aggressive inflammatory dry eye disease. These are better known as Restasis, Xiidra, and Cequa are prescribed after testing for inflammation via tests known as Inflammadry and Tearlab Osmolarity which look at the health of the tears.

OTHER DRY EYE OPTIONS

The maintenance of dry eye disease is specific to the individual but involves good communication between the doctor and patient. There are many treatment modalities that can be implemented for dry eye management. These include scleral lenses which are lenses that are inserted over the cornea to where it is bathed in preservative-free solution all day, amniotic membrane which contain many anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help regenerate the corneal surface, and punctal plugs which are inserted into the tear ducts to stop the tears from flowing out of your eyes.

Other treatment options include thermal pulsation devices to loosen the oils from the glands so that normal, healthy oil can continue to be releases onto the eyes. These devices are known as Lipiflow, TearCare, iLux, to name a few.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy is now FDA approved for the treatment of dry eye disease. The burst of light causes changes in the blood vessels that decrease inflammation and eliminate stagnant oil from the glands.

DO YOU HAVE DRY EYES?

You may if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms! It all starts with you and your lifestyle. Schedule a dry eye consultation with Dr. Amin today and let’s get started!!