Dry eye syndrome/disease, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is an increasingly common eye condition that affects millions of people worldwide. This chronic lack of adequate lubrication and moisture on the eye's surface can cause irritation, discomfort, and even vision problems if left untreated. In this article, the causes of this problem will be looked at alongside the methods that we have devised to manage each of them.
It has been established that in the UK and worldwide, atleast 1/3 of the population, old and young, experience dry eye syndrome. It begs the question, why are dry eyes so common in the 21st century and what factors are contributing to this syndrome?
Whilst dry eyes can affect anyone, certain factors increase an individual's susceptibility to this condition:
Age plays a role, with dry eye syndrome being more prevalent amongst older adults over 50 due to a natural decline in tear production.
Gender is another risk factor, as women are more prone to experiencing dry eyes, especially during hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and menopause.
Those who wear contact lenses, particularly for extended periods, are also at higher risk because the lenses can disrupt the tear film.
Certain refractive surgeries like laser eye surgery and photorefractive keratectomy may temporarily or permanently alter the corneal nerves, affecting tear production and leading to dry eyes.
Prolonged use of digital devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones can also contribute to dry eyes, as staring at screens for long periods reduces blink rates and increases tear evaporation.
Exposure to dry environments like air conditioning, heating systems, or arid climates over extended periods can exacerbate dry eye symptoms through increased tear evaporation.
With this in mind, one of the leading causes for ocular dryness is poor tear stability as a result of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The meibomian glands are specialised sebaceous glands located in the eyelids that play a vital part in preventing dry eyes. Their main function is producing an oily substance called meibum that forms the outermost layer of the tear film coating the eye's surface. This oily meibum layer helps stabilise the tear film and slow down evaporation between blinks. It also contains antimicrobial lipids that help protect the eye from bacterial infections and provides lubrication during blinking to prevent friction between the lids and eyeball. If the meibomian glands become obstructed or dysfunctional, they fail to secrete sufficient meibum. This leads to an unstable tear film prone to rapid evaporation, resulting in the hallmark symptoms of dry eye disease like discomfort, grittiness, and blurred vision.
At RevolutionEyes, we have researched the most effective techniques to improving evaporative dry eye, and combined them to provide a comprehensive solution:
Exfoliation of the eyelids to remove any capping of oils or debris from the eyelid margin.
Heating the eyelids to help dissolve solidified meibum.
Express the eyelids gently to help free and clear the glands.
Apply anti-parasitic/bacterial ointment to the eyelids to kill any Demodex/Bacterial infestations causing blocked or irritated eyelids.
A dose of Photobiomodulatory light to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and activate better energy production in the eyelids.
Our treatment protocol allows us to give the gaurantee of an immediate improvement in the signs of symptoms of dry eyes. For more information on how you can benefit from our proprietary treatment, check out the treatments section on the RevolutionEyes website.
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