Dry Eyes

Pathophysiology: Dry eye syndrome, or dry eye disease, is a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to the eyes drying out and becoming inflamed (red and swollen) and irritated. Dry eye syndrome is also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or simply ‘dries eyes'. The symptoms of dry eye syndrome usually affect both eyes and often include: feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness that get worse throughout the day red eyes eyelids that stick together when you wake up temporarily blurred vision, which usually improves when you blink. Dry eye syndrome can occur when the complex tear production process is disrupted in some way.

The oil lubricates the eye and prevents the tears from evaporating. Restasis. The FDA approved the prescription eye drop Restasis for the treatment of chronic dry eye. It is currently the only prescription eye drop that helps your eyes increase their own tear production with continued use. Other medications and nutrition. Other medications, including steroid eye drops, can be used for short periods of time as an adjunct to other long-term measures. There is growing evidence that increasing the oral intake of fish oil and omega-3 via diet or supplement is very helpful to those suffering with dry eye. Research work: Recent advances in the understanding of tear film physiology and pathology have allowed the formulation of a variety of tear substitutes capable of addressing specific deficiencies of tear components. Topical steroids and cyclosporine are the two agents available today for the reduction of dry eye-related inflammation. As a new treatment paradigm with dry eye patients

Dr. Holland recommends initial therapy with loteprednol to reduce the inflammation and maintenance therapy with loteprednol and cyclosporine for long-term control. This has led to improved quality of life for patients with dry eye, with a significant reduction in the use of artificial tears, he said. Loteprednol has an immediate effect on inflammation and, with appropriate tapering, can be administered for long-term maintenance therapy.