Why Do My Eyes Water and Burn When I Read

As a cornea specialist, I meet a large number of patients who suffer from dry eyes.

The symptoms of dry out eyes can be quite variable amongst different individuals. Some common features include center called-for, sandy/gritty feeling in the eyes, itching, low-cal sensitivity, tiredness of the eyes when reading or working on the computer, and excessive violent.

Yes, you read that correctly. Some patients with dry eyes present with excessive tearing that sometimes occurs after being exposed to common cold air, reading in bed, and windy conditions.

The reason for this is when we read for a flow, we practice not blink equally much. This causes the eyes to become fifty-fifty drier and irritated. In response, the tear gland goes into overdrive, and excessive fierce happens. The aforementioned situation tin can occur when exposure to cold or hot air occurs.

Most of the patients who end upwards in my ophthalmology exercise at Middle Care of Eastward Bay have already had many of the usual treatments including artificial tears, gels, and eye ointment with express response. Many are frustrated past lack of efficacy and the chronic nature of the condition. The symptoms of dry eyes are rarely severe only decrease the quality of life and have a negative bear on on mood and mental health.

In this blog, I am going to requite you lot a brief review of dry out eyes and its standard treatment. In the next blog, I volition review some of the less commonly used just very effective treatments for patients who do non respond to conventional therapies.

How Common is Dry Eyes?

It is hard to know precisely how many patients suffer from dry out eyes but it is estimated that at least sixteen one thousand thousand people have chronic dry eye syndrome in the United States. On a typical day, I see at least 5-half-dozen patients with dry eyes. Most of my dry optics patients are older and more ordinarily women. This is partly because of hormonal changes – such as those that occur during pregnancy or menopause.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Simply put, there are two general causes of dry out middle. Either there is non sufficient tear product or too much tear evaporates from the eye.

Ordinarily, the most common crusade of dry heart is the historic period-associated decrease in tear product. As nosotros get older, our tear glands exercise not produce every bit much tear as when we are younger. This is the almost common type establish in postmenopausal women.

Systemic disease such as Sjogren'southward syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and others can also decrease tear production.

Finally, many medications such every bit sedatives, diuretics, antidepressants, blood force per unit area medications, oral contraceptives, antihistamines, nasal decongestants, and hurting relievers tin cause decrease tear production.

Dry Eyes can likewise be caused by rapid evaporation or premature destruction of the tears. In this condition, although there is sufficient tear product, the thin portion of the tears evaporates too quickly, leaving minor amounts of salty liquid behind. This usually happens when there is reduced blinking such every bit reading for an extended period or staring at the computer screen. Exposure to certain environmental conditions such every bit blowing fans, air conditioning, pollen in the air, and others can cause more evaporation of tears.

Other factors such equally long-term apply of contact lenses and refractive surgeries, such equally LASIK, can cause dry eyes.

What are the Treatments for Dry out Centre?

Although there are many topical treatments for dry optics, every patient is unique and will respond differently to available modalities of treatment. I normally sit with my patients and together we come up with a footstep-wise handling plan going from simple to more complex.

Step 1: Over the Counter Topical Artificial Tears, Gels, and Ointments

Frequent use of topical high-quality artificial tears tin help many patients. In that location are many unlike over the counter artificial tears available. In full general, the teardrops that are preservative costless are gentler on the eye. The preservative containing drops tin irritate with frequent use.

1 general rule of thumb is that if the drops are used more iv times daily, preservative free tears should be used. The main problem with bogus tears is the brusque duration of issue. While they provide some relief, the result does non last a long time.

In that location are too many artificial eye gel and ointments that tin can provide much longer relief. The principal trouble with these is that they cause blurry vision. The gels or ointments are ideal for night utilize correct before sleeping.

I also advise my patients to utilize warm compresses twice daily. The use of warm compresses can help open upward the glands at the eyelid margin. These glands secrete oily material that helps moisturize the eye and subtract tear evaporation.

Step 2: Prescription Topical Medications

At that place are currently 2 FDA approved topical drops for the treatment of dry out eyes in the US:

I is Restasis. This is an anti-inflammatory eye driblet that is used twice daily. The decrease in inflammation allows the tear gland to outset producing more tears. So, it is non a teardrop only rather a tear producer. It is important to know that not everyone responds to the drops and information technology tin take 3-four months of use to have an effect. During that fourth dimension, patients need to go on using their artificial tears. The medication does sting a bit when applied. I have had some pleased patients with Restasis but too some patients who did not respond to it.

Some other contempo heart drop that is new to the United states of america market is Xiidra. It is also used twice daily, and it can assistance decrease symptoms of dry optics.

Both of these medications are prescription, and although many insurance companies are paying for them, without insurance the cost tin be quite loftier.

Some of dry eyes patients present to my role with very inflamed and ruddy eyes. For some selected patients, a short form of topical steroid centre drops tin be helpful. This should be done only for a short duration under the supervision of an ophthalmologist to monitor for side furnishings.

Step 3: Punctal Plugs

Each eyelid (upper and lower) has a small-scale opening close to the nose called the punctum. The openings are connected to tear drainage ducts. The job of these ducts is to drain excess tears away from the centre. Dry eye patients do not have any backlog tears to remove. In other words, they need to concord on to every scrap of tear they take.

One way to do this is to close the lower tear drainage duct by placement of a tiny plastic plug in the opening. These devices are called punctal plugs, and they are mostly virtually half the size of a grain of rice. When the drainage duct is closed, the patient has more tears and less dry eyes. This is similar to closing the drain in a sink.

The procedure is simple and can exist performed in the part in a few seconds. Some possible side effects include irritation of the heart due to the plug or over-response to the treatment with excessive violent. Depending on the type of plug, the process can exist reversed by removal of the plug in many but not all cases.

Conclusion

Nosotros have covered some of the virtually mutual treatment of dry eyes. While many patients practice respond to these treatments, there are patients with very severe dry out eyes who continue to have symptoms despite these therapies. In my next blog, I will embrace some non-common but very effective alternatives.

In summary, although treatment of dry eyes tin can be challenging for both the patient and the ophthalmologist, with appropriate evaluation and regular follow up, the condition can be successfully managed in nearly patients.

If y'all feel any of these symptoms, you can adapt for a consultation at my office at the Centre Intendance of East Bay in Walnut Creek.

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Source: https://www.eyecareofeastbay.com/blog/dry-eyes