'Tears are a reminder that we are more than the moment’ ~ Douglas C.
Do you know what does your ‘Tear’ have in it? Your tears are composed of water, fatty oils, proteins and electrolytes, the salt ions (makes it salty). We get tears when we are overjoyed or sad. But nature has given us tears to coat the eye, making the surface smooth and protecting the eye from foreign objects, infections. The constituents of tears also helps you see clearly. Tears keep your eyes moisten/lubricated helping it proper and for flexible eye ball movement.
The Lacrimal glands, also called as Tear glands, located above the lateral end of each eye, continuously supply tear fluid to the surface of your eye each time you blink your eyelids.
Meibomian gland makes oil in the tear. These oil glands are at the edge of the eyelids where you have eyelashes. These glands make oil that is an important part of the tears. The oily layer is the outside of the tear film that keeps tears from drying up faster.
A number of eye problems like EDE (Evaporative Dry Eye) can dysfunction of Meibomian glands. If the respective glands don’t function right, become blocked, your tears won’t get produced as needed and won’t contain the right amount of oil to keep them from evaporating. The glands may become blocked for several reasons. Concentrating hard and longer on a computer or mobile screen, driving, reading for longer without breaks can decrease how often you blink, and it dries up your eyes in course of time.
Symptoms
Dry eyes may occur if you don't produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears. This leads to inflammation causing damage to the eye's surface.
Dry eyes feel uncomfortable. Dry eyes may sting or burn. You may experience dry eyes in certain situations, for example on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, while riding a bike or after long hours of digital screen-time.
Common symptoms of EDE (Evaporative Dry Eye) varies from person to person and in severity. You may feel;
sandy feeling in the eyes
stinging sensation in both or either of the eye
blurred vision is common
difficulty in wearing contact lenses
Photo-sensitivity (sensitivity to light)
Tired eyes
Occasional redness in the eyes
Treatments for dry eyes may make you more comfortable and mainly to keep your eyes healthy in long-run. These treatments can include lifestyle changes and eye drops.
Threats to the eyes
If your eye evaporation is left as it is, the pain and discomfort may make it difficult for you to read, drive, or carry out daily activities. It can also result in serious complications in future. It may increase risk of eye infections, including blinding infections, because your tears are not sufficient to protect the surface of your eyes. There is greater risk of scratching your cornea or damaging your eyesight.
Treatment
Treatment of Evaporative Dry eye depends on the severity of your symptoms and understanding the underlying cause that needs to be treated. In the initial stage you can take care of the dryness of your eyes by yourself by changing certain habits and lifestyles and by adding a Eye cooling drop available as OTC (Over-the-counter).
If you consult, the doctor may also suggest simple changes, such as using a humidifier to keep more moisture in the air or, if you wear contact lenses then trying a different cleaning system for your lenses, applying warm compresses to your eyelids twice a day. They may also recommend an over-the-counter lid scrub.
Your doctor may also advise eye drops or artificial tears to make your eyes more comfortable. There are many types of drops, tears and ointments, and you may need to check carefully to find what works best for you. However, drops are advised, as its easy and safe to use. Eye Spa is one of the highly recommended relaxing eye drop for dry eye issues. The main ingredient Carboxymethyl Cellulose is beneficial and highly mild for dry eye issues.
Here are some tips you can do to help prevent EDE:
Keep up a daily routine of eye compresses (warm)
Eye blinking: Blink regularly to keep your eyes lubricated.
Avoid smoking and being around people who smoke.
Drink plenty of water for better hydration
Wear sunglasses when you’re exposed to sun and wind.
Do 20-20-20 rule to avoid eye strain
Carboxymethyl cellulose
Carboxymethyl Cellulose or CMC is a medication used to relieve dry, irritated eyes. This product may contain 1 or more of the following ingredients: carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, glycerin, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 400, polyvinyl alcohol, or propylene glycol, among others. Eye lubricants keep the eye moist, help to protect the eye from injury and infection, and decrease symptoms of dry eyes such as burning, itching, and feeling as if something is in the eye.
Comments