Enduring with Dry Eyes: a systematic approach

Image Credit: Better Vision Guide

‘The eye is the jewel of the body.’ ~ Henry David Thoreau

The jewel of the body and your existence should be taken care rightly. In daily routine we generally ignore about our eye health, when eye is the most exposed and operational organ. Eye is the window to the world. Imagine your world without vision, isn’t it completely dark?

Our eye is made in such a away that though is very sensitive and delicate, it won’t get wear and tear very soon unless any major accident has happened. However, with time it gets affected with various eye issues. Gradually the today’s minor issues becomes major eye problems tomorrow. Most of the eye ailments have no permanent solution.

To avoid such temporary problem and to keep the jewel of the body healthy you need to protect and nurse your eyes on regular basis.

Common Eye Disorders:

We advice, to identify the issues with the eyes and treat them well within the time so that they do not hamper the proper functioning of the eyes.

Below are some of the most common eye diseases seen among students and working professionals:

1. Strain in the Eyes

2. Tears in the Eyes

3. Dry Eye

4. Eye Floaters

5. Tired Eyes

6. Red Eyes

7. Blurred Vision

8. Allergic Conjunctivitis

9. Night Blindness

10. Lazy Eye

11. Color Blindness

12. Yellow Eyes

13. Shingles in the Eye

14. Computer vision syndrome

There are several reasons to have these eye issues. Dry Eye is one of the very common issue seen in mass among all age group. Let’s discuss in detail along with long-term solution.

Dry Eye: Disorder & Syndrome

Dry eye is seen as a common problem that affects many people globally, reducing quality of life and impacting daily activities. A sustainable approach often used in medicine and other disciplines to evaluate how people with dry eye cope with it’s impact. Dry Eye Disorder (DED) also known as Tear production disorder is a common cause of distress among people that is often overlooked. The International Dry Eye Workshop II defined DED as a “a multi-factorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neuro-sensory abnormalities play etiological roles”.

In one of the study done in 2020 by Indian Journal of Ophthalmology reported that in North India 32% prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) were observed, and based on symptoms 81% were severe DED. Where as a study from south India reported 1.46% DED incidence. The authors of Indian Journal of Ophthalmology predicted that within the end of next decade, large number of urban and rural populations would have DED.

Cause

You get tears in two occasions, one is when you are sad and another one is when you witnes a blissful moment. Tears and emotions are so deeply connected. We have tear glands which secrets a mix of water (the moisture), oils (lubrication), Mucus (to spread), antibodies (to keep the eye infection free). Tears provide moisture and lubrication to help you see and keep your peepers comfortable.

Dry Eyes, means there is shortage of these lubricating substance. Your glands don’t produce the needed amount of tears. When you go short of tears you there is a gritty feeling, itching, redness, blurry vision, light sensitivity etc.

Sometimes, dry eyes create too much tears, called as Reflex tearing. These tear are not like natural tears but like water. It can only clear out debrish out, but can’t coat surface of the eye.

In some cases, there's lack of balance in your tear-flow system. Air conditioner, heater, fan or other things around you could dry out your tear film. Other causes are:

• Aging process, especially menopause in females

• Side effects of certain drugs

• There are diseases that affect your ability to make tears, like Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases

• Certain problems that don’t allow your eyelids to close the way they should
  

How can you treat Dry Eyes?

There are a number of options to treat dry eye, however it depends on the severity of the dry eye. As we said earlier, you must diagnose the eye problem from beginning. It becomes easy to treat from roots.

Eye drops and ointments are very widely available and taken for treating dry eyes. This is the most common treatment. Many types of drops are available over the counter. If you have chronic dry eye, you need to use the drops even when your eyes feel fine, or they won’t stay wet enough. If your eyes dry out while you sleep, you can use 3-4 drops or a thick product, like an ointment instead, at night.

Whenever you go out in the day, try wearing sunglasses to save your eyes from UV rays. Splash water in intervals however make sure the splash is not hard on your eyes.

Adding Vitamin A, E and Omega 3 to diet is very helpful. You can even try vitamin supplements to enhance your vision and to keep the eyes healthy.

Testosterone cream is known to be helpful in Dry eye treatment. Dry eye can be related to a lack of testosterone in the oil glands on your eyelids. The doctor might give you a testosterone cream that you apply to your eyelids. It can help your oil glands work better. You may also try herbal, natural testosterone boosting products, available over the counter.

For severe dry eye problem you may visit an Ophthalmologist to seek advice.

Note: Our OTC Eye drop Eye Spa lubricates the eyes naturally. Helps to avoid dry eye condition such as burning, itching and feeling of foreign particles in the eye. Provides long lasting relief from eye strain. Keeps the eyes refreshed and relaxed.