Are You Taking Care of Your Eye Health?
As we age, vision and eye health deteriorate. By tackling your eye health problems now, you can prevent or slow the progression of vision loss in the future. Its not surprising that living in a dry,windy or wearing contact lenses can lead to dry eyes.But cold outdoor temperature and some medication may also effect your tears.
Other dry eye culprits
“Beware of ceiling fans, heaters and car air conditioning too,” says Melissa Barnett, OD, principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and California Optometric Association member.
Allergies, Sjogren’s syndrome and refractive laser surgery to improve vision are other causes of dry eye, which afflicts 3.2 million American women ages 50 and older, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. About 1.5 million men are also affected.The problem gets worse with age, growing from 5.7% of women younger than 50 to 9.8% of women 75 and older.
Refractive surgery improves vision problems, often eliminating the need for eyeglasses. But dry eyes are a common side effect, usually lasting 3-6 months post-surgery. That’s because the corneal nerves that prompt glands to produce tears are temporarily damaged. Before surgery, you’ll need an exam from your eye doctor to determine the severity of your dry eyes, if you have it. You must have a sufficient amount of tears for the [procedure].
Your doctor will give you moisturizing drops to improve your eye lubrication. You may get punctal plugs, which are inserted into the tear ducts and can be left in indefinitely. They block tear drainage, helping you retain more tear film on your eye surface.
Your doctor might prescribe cyclosporine drops, which help you produce your own tears. After surgery, you’ll be instructed to use moisturizing drops for several weeks. You can use thicker gel eye drops at bedtime.
Some people sleep with their eyes open; are they at risk?
People who sleep with their eyes slightly open have nocturnal lagophthalmos; it causes eye dryness and irritation.They should wear an eye mask during sleep. Some patients tape their eyes shut. Lubricant ointment is helpful to use at night.Moisture goggles work well too; they keep moisture in and around your eyes while you’re sleeping.
If you believe your eyes aren’t fully closing during sleep, see your doctor. Panoptx glasses have inserts that create a sealed moisture chamber around your eyes. They’re available as a prescription, non-prescription and sunglasses, according to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Tranquileyes are soft, flexible goggles that prevent evaporation of natural tears. You can wear them while sleeping, relaxing or in dry environments.
Can illnesses cause dry eyes?
Studies show that people with diabetes have a 50% chance of getting dry eyes. It’s caused by neuropathy, which affects the nerves that control tear-producing glands.Just as diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy – tingling or burning in the hands and feet – it also affects the nerves that sense dryness and keep eyes moist.
What’s your advice to people with diabetes?
Keep your blood sugar under control. If you don’t, you may also increase the amount of glucose in your tears, which contributes to dry eye.Use artificial tear drops, cyclosporine, punctal plugs and increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake. Drink plenty of water and use a humidifier.
Bell’s palsy – possibly due to inflammation of a nerve controlling the muscles on one side of your face – causes weakness in your facial muscles. The eye can droop and not close, creating severe dryness. Any nerve damage that prevents your eye from closing, such as a stroke, can do that.
Eye lubricants are a must, especially lubricant ointment at night. You can also try moisture goggles at night.
Are Sjogren’s syndrome patients at high risk of dry eye?
If you have dry eyes and dry mouth, it’s important to get your eyes checked. If you have arthritis symptoms with them, you may have Sjogren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease.
White blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands, drying the eyes. The syndrome can cause chronic irritation and damage to the cornea and other organs. Symptoms include eye burning, stinging, itching, lid swelling and eye fatigue.
Eat foods rich in omega-6 essential fatty acids, including corn and soybean oils and nuts and seeds. Topical steroids, along with antibiotics, sometimes help the inflammation.Prescription products for dry eyes and dry mouth are available. Sometimes immunosuppressive medications are used to treat internal-organ related to Sjogren’s.
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing pauses or becomes shallow during sleep. CPAP machines prevent it by increasing air pressure into the throat. That way, your airway stays fully open while you inhale. Users wear a mask covering their nose and mouth, and the air can escape and blow into the eyes at night, causing dry eyes.
Make sure your mask is tightly sealed around your face. Use lubricant ointment before sleep and preservative-free artificial tears when you wake up to moisten your eyes.
If you take antihistamines regularly, have diabetes, or sit for hours in front
of a computer, watch out for gritty, burning, itchy eyes.Known as dry eye syndrome, the chronic condition occurs when you don’t have
enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated and nourished.
Other dry eye culprits
“Beware of ceiling fans, heaters and car air conditioning too,” says Melissa Barnett, OD, principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and California Optometric Association member.
Allergies, Sjogren’s syndrome and refractive laser surgery to improve vision are other causes of dry eye, which afflicts 3.2 million American women ages 50 and older, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. About 1.5 million men are also affected.The problem gets worse with age, growing from 5.7% of women younger than 50 to 9.8% of women 75 and older.
Does refractive surgery, such
as LASIK, cause dry eyes?
Refractive surgery improves vision problems, often eliminating the need for eyeglasses. But dry eyes are a common side effect, usually lasting 3-6 months post-surgery. That’s because the corneal nerves that prompt glands to produce tears are temporarily damaged. Before surgery, you’ll need an exam from your eye doctor to determine the severity of your dry eyes, if you have it. You must have a sufficient amount of tears for the [procedure].
Your doctor will give you moisturizing drops to improve your eye lubrication. You may get punctal plugs, which are inserted into the tear ducts and can be left in indefinitely. They block tear drainage, helping you retain more tear film on your eye surface.
Your doctor might prescribe cyclosporine drops, which help you produce your own tears. After surgery, you’ll be instructed to use moisturizing drops for several weeks. You can use thicker gel eye drops at bedtime.
Some people sleep with their eyes open; are they at risk?
People who sleep with their eyes slightly open have nocturnal lagophthalmos; it causes eye dryness and irritation.They should wear an eye mask during sleep. Some patients tape their eyes shut. Lubricant ointment is helpful to use at night.Moisture goggles work well too; they keep moisture in and around your eyes while you’re sleeping.
If you believe your eyes aren’t fully closing during sleep, see your doctor. Panoptx glasses have inserts that create a sealed moisture chamber around your eyes. They’re available as a prescription, non-prescription and sunglasses, according to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Tranquileyes are soft, flexible goggles that prevent evaporation of natural tears. You can wear them while sleeping, relaxing or in dry environments.
Can illnesses cause dry eyes?
Studies show that people with diabetes have a 50% chance of getting dry eyes. It’s caused by neuropathy, which affects the nerves that control tear-producing glands.Just as diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy – tingling or burning in the hands and feet – it also affects the nerves that sense dryness and keep eyes moist.
What’s your advice to people with diabetes?
Keep your blood sugar under control. If you don’t, you may also increase the amount of glucose in your tears, which contributes to dry eye.Use artificial tear drops, cyclosporine, punctal plugs and increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake. Drink plenty of water and use a humidifier.
Which other health conditions
cause dry eyes?
Bell’s palsy – possibly due to inflammation of a nerve controlling the muscles on one side of your face – causes weakness in your facial muscles. The eye can droop and not close, creating severe dryness. Any nerve damage that prevents your eye from closing, such as a stroke, can do that.
Eye lubricants are a must, especially lubricant ointment at night. You can also try moisture goggles at night.
Are Sjogren’s syndrome patients at high risk of dry eye?
If you have dry eyes and dry mouth, it’s important to get your eyes checked. If you have arthritis symptoms with them, you may have Sjogren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease.
White blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands, drying the eyes. The syndrome can cause chronic irritation and damage to the cornea and other organs. Symptoms include eye burning, stinging, itching, lid swelling and eye fatigue.
Eat foods rich in omega-6 essential fatty acids, including corn and soybean oils and nuts and seeds. Topical steroids, along with antibiotics, sometimes help the inflammation.Prescription products for dry eyes and dry mouth are available. Sometimes immunosuppressive medications are used to treat internal-organ related to Sjogren’s.
Why do continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP) machines cause dry eyes in people with sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing pauses or becomes shallow during sleep. CPAP machines prevent it by increasing air pressure into the throat. That way, your airway stays fully open while you inhale. Users wear a mask covering their nose and mouth, and the air can escape and blow into the eyes at night, causing dry eyes.
Make sure your mask is tightly sealed around your face. Use lubricant ointment before sleep and preservative-free artificial tears when you wake up to moisten your eyes.
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