The Connection Between Dry Eye and Corneal Health

Are you blinking constantly to clear your vision? Did you know that is the most common sign of dry eye syndrome? Most people will suffer from dry eyes at some point in their lives. However, chronic or untreated dry eyes can lead to serious complications of the cornea, including corneal irritation, inflammation, or permanent vision damage at the most extreme. So, how do you know the difference between casual dry eyes and a chronic condition requiring in-office treatment from a professional? We’ll walk you through the development of dry eye syndrome, what exacerbates the condition, how to treat it at home, and when you need to see an OCLI Vision eye care specialist. Ultimately, the goal is to protect your cornea for a lifetime of clear, healthy vision. 

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eyes happen when the eye does not produce enough tears or the quality of the tears is insufficient to properly clean the eye, leading to increased tear evaporation. Tears have many functions, including cleaning the front of the eye or the cornea, preventing infection, lubricating the eye, and washing away any foreign matter. Tears are vital for the ongoing health and comfort of your eyes. Common dry eye symptoms include burning, stinging, a gritty feeling, dryness, redness, watery eyes, and blurry vision. 

Our patients often ask, “Can dry eyes cause blurry vision?” Yes! When your eyes are not producing enough tears or the tears are not properly lubricating your eyes, this can result in blurry vision. This could be because the cornea is damaged or because the tears are unstable on the surface of the eye. 

While anyone can develop dry eye syndrome, certain characteristics make some people more likely to develop them than others, including:

• Older adults, especially post-menopausal women
• Wearing contact lenses
• Having an autoimmune disorder or other chronic condition
• Using or staring at screens for an extended period of time
• Undergoing LASIK or other laser vision correction surgery
• Certain medications and environmental conditions can also exacerbate the development of dry eye syndrome. 

What Causes Dry Eyes? 

Dry eye syndrome can be caused by a number of factors and conditions, including: 

• Aging – As we age, the structures in our eyes change and become less adept at creating the proper tears or enough of them to lubricate and clean the eyes. 
• Hormone changes – Women, especially post-menopausal and pregnant women are at higher risk of developing dry eye.
• Medications – Some medications can cause dry eye, including antihistamines, decongestants, and blood pressure medication.
• LASIK or refractive laser surgery – One of the surgical side effects of LASIK may be dry eyes as tear production can decrease during healing and for a bit afterwards.  
• Environmental conditions – During dry times of the year, such as the winter, tears can evaporate quickly, leading to dry eye. Other environmental conditions impacting dry eye include smoke, prolonged screen time, seasonal allergies, and wind. 
• Meibomian gland dysfunction – The meibomian glands are the small glands at the edge of your eyelids. When they fail to produce enough or high-quality oil it can cause dry eye because tears evaporate more quickly.
• Chronic health conditions – Conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disorders can all lead to dry eye for different reasons. 

How Dry Eye Affects the Cornea

Having dry eyes is normal from time to time, however, the danger arises when someone is suffering from chronic dry eyes which can negatively impact the cornea. Excessive dry eyes put you at increased risk for corneal abrasions, ulcers, inflammation, and infections. The cornea only works when it is properly clean and lubricated with tears. If this process is disrupted for too long, you may need to see a cornea specialist. 

How to Prevent and Treat Dry Eyes 

There are a few things you can do to prevent dry eye syndrome, such as:

• Use artificial tears – These artificial drops can help to lubricate the eyes when needed. Contact your eye doctor if you have to use them for more than two weeks as this may indicate a different problem. 
• Take screen breaks – When working on a screen, use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 
• Be aware of environmental triggers – During smokey days or seasonal allergy season, take appropriate measures to protect your eyes, such as wearing protective glasses or using a humidifier. 
• Stay hydrated – If your body does not have enough water, your tear production may suffer. Make sure to get enough water and electrolytes throughout the day.

Most of the ways to prevent dry eye are small lifestyle changes that can be incorporated into a routine quite easily. While slightly annoying, dry eye syndrome can be very manageable and treatable.

Once you have dry eyes, there are a number of ways to treat the problem. Some of the most common include: 

• Artificial tears – Ask your eye doctor to prescribe a brand that they trust as there are many options to choose from. 
• Prescription eye drops – For people with meibomian gland dysfunction or severe dry eyes, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic drops to reduce inflammation.
• Warm compresses – Sometimes the meibomian glands will open with a warm compress, helping tear production.
• Punctal plugs – These are tiny plugs placed into the tear ducts to prevent the tears from draining from the eye. 

Unfortunately, if the above do not work, or you have a more serious corneal condition, such as a cornea abrasion, corneal ulcer, or inflammation, you will need to see a cornea specialist for diagnosis and treatment. 

Signs Your Corneal Health Might Be at Risk

How do you know if you have chronic dry eyes and the condition is threatening the health of your cornea? Some of the following are symptoms of persistent dry eye and should be evaluated by a cornea specialist. 

• Dry eye symptoms that do not respond to over-the-counter treatments
• Difficulty keeping eyes open for long periods
• Blurry or frequently changing vision, you may also develop a sensitivity to light
• A history of eye infections, such as conjunctivitis, trauma, or inflammation 
• There is a noticeable cornea haze, ulcers, or discharge

When is it Time to See an OCLI Vision Eye Doctor?

As a general rule, if you have been trying some of the lifestyle adjustments above and are not seeing results, schedule time to meet with an eye doctor. However, if you experience any of the following, contact an eye care professional without delay: sudden vision changes, severe pain, excessive tearing, discharge, or inability to wear contacts.

When you visit an OCLI Vision office for a dry eye exam, your optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform a tear breakup time test, a Schirmer’s test, and a corneal topography to check the quantity and quality of your tears as well as the general health of your cornea. Early intervention is vital to ensuring your have clear, healthy vision for life. 

If you think something might be wrong with your eyes, contact our office right away to schedule an appointment. It’s as easy as clicking the link and choosing a time at the OCLI Vision nearest you.

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