New Developments in Dry Eye Treatments

Itchy, burning, and tired eyes can be quite a nuisance — but not just that. If you develop dry eye disease, your daily activities can become challenging.

But there’s good news! Recent advancements in dry eye treatments offer new options to relieve you from this ocular surface disorder.

Today, we will discuss everything from home remedies to advanced treatments. If dry eyes are putting a pause on your life, keep reading to know more!

Dry Eye Disease: Types, Causes, and Symptoms

There are two main types of dry eye disease, though you may experience a mix of both. These are:

1. Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: Your eyes can’t support sufficient natural tear production.
2. Evaporative Dry Eye: Tears evaporate fast due to problems in the oil-secreting meibomian glands.

Common dry eye symptoms include:

• Sandy, burning, or itchy sensations
• Redness
• Pain
• Tiredness
• Blurry vision
• Heavy eyelids

The causes of dry eyes include Meibomian gland dysfunction, underlying inflammation, anterior blepharitis, allergic conjunctivitis, or anterior uveitis. These can be attributed to one or more of the following:

• Prolonged exposure to a dry environment
• Excess screen time
• Corneal nerve desensitivity due to contact lens
• Age-related changes
• Hormonal changes
• Medical conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, etc.
• Medications
• Eyelid problems like turning or inflammatory disease
• Skin diseases near the eyes
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Allergies

Dry Eye Treatments

Temporary dry eyes may be fixed easily with OTC eye drops, medicines, or home remedies. However, chronic dry eyes may demand lifestyle changes with therapies, surgeries, etc., for long-term management.

First-Line Treatments: Eye Drops, Ointments, and Medications

The go-to solution for dry eyes is OTC eye drops or artificial tears that moisten the eyes. Preservative-free drops are best, and you’ll have to apply them multiple times per day.

There are ointments that create a better coating for the eyes. Use them before bedtime as they tend to blur vision due to their thick texture.

If these don’t work, the other option is eye inserts composed of dissolvable hydroxypropyl cellulose. They’re placed in the lower eyelid to release medication all day, keeping the eyes moist.

The above options are over-the-counter solutions. But if they’re ineffective, the next treatment options are prescription medicines like:

• Perfluorhexyloctane (Miebo)
• Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension (Eysuvis, Inveltys, Alrex, Lotemax)
• Lifitegrast (Xiidra)
• Cyclosporine (Restasis, Cequa)
• Varenicline (Tyrvaya).

Second-Line Treatments: Therapies and Procedures

First-line treatments may be insufficient for chronic issues affecting tear secretion or eye moisture level. In that case, you must consult a healthcare professional who may prescribe the following:

Therapeutic Contact Lenses

Special contact lenses can retain eye moisture for evaporative dry eye. These include:

• Scleral lenses to cover the eye surface and trap tear fluid
• Bandage contact lenses for temporary relief, like after eye surgery.

Tear Duct Plugs

For moderate to severe dry eyes, punctal plugs are used. They’re made of gel or silicone and inserted into the tear drain to retain natural or artificial tear film longer.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

IPL is one of the latest treatments for dry eye disease. It uses gentle light pulses to reduce eyelid inflammation and remove oil gland blockage. OptiLight is a commonly used device for it.

Thermal Pulsation Therapy

With the help of devices like Lipiflow and iLux, Thermal Pulsation provides heat and pressure to the oil glands. This helps open up any blockage, reduce inflammation, and improve tear quality.

Radiofrequency Treatment

Another treatment that uses gentle heat to treat dry eyes is radiofrequency treatment. It melts blockages in the meibomian glands to restore their normal function, i.e., oil production for a healthy tear film.

Amniotic Membrane Graft Surgery

For severe cases of dry eyes leading to corneal damage, amniotic membrane graft surgery is required. It uses a thin placental tissue layer to heal ocular surface damage using anti-inflammatory actions.

Critical Surgery

In rare and extreme cases, you may need critical surgery to adjust or tighten the eyelids. Surgery may also involve permanently closing your tear ducts.

Lifestyle Habits and Home Remedies:

In addition to modern medicines, home remedies can help manage dry eye symptoms. Try the following:

• Warm compresses to keep the glands flowing
• Mild soap like baby shampoo to massage and clean the eyelids
• Castor oil eye drops to reduce tear evaporation and alleviate symptoms.

Lifestyle changes can keep eye problems like ocular surface disease at bay and maintain visual acuity. Include the following in your daily life:

• Avoid windy, dry, smoky, or air-conditioned environments.
• Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Take a break from electronic screens frequently.
• Take blinking breaks to lubricate the eyes.
• Focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
• Wear sunglasses with side shields.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Take dietary supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B12, C, and D.

FAQ:

Q. Can fish oil cure dry eyes?

A: It is theorized that fish oil is good for the eyes and can cure dry eyes as it’s rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Clinical studies have not yet been able to back this claim with proven results. However, experts do not completely rule out its likely benefits for dry eyes.

Q. Can I cure my dry eyes permanently?

A: You can’t permanently cure chronic dry eye disease. However, with proper medicines and the right course of treatment, you will be able to manage the symptoms of the condition better.

That way, you won’t have to worry about triggering dry eyes and feeling constant eye discomfort.

Contact Bright Eye Spa

Are you experiencing dry eyes? Don’t delay!

Eye problems can affect the quality of life. If left untreated, they even cause vision obstruction and weakness.

At Bright Eye Spa, we provide the best services in Canada with an experienced team. Besides eye care, our services include skin and hair treatments, skin analysis, etc.

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