Dry Eye Syndrome
Information about what dry eye syndrome is
Including the definition, symptoms and causes
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Dry Eye Syndrome is a common eye condition caused by insufficient tear lubrication in the eyes. There are many reasons for one to develop dry eyes. Our eye clinics, located in Melbourne, treat dry eyes to not only decrease or eliminate dry eye symptoms but to help alleviate eye discomfort. Not only do we prescribe you the best eyedrops for dry eyes but we also look into the cause of your discomfort and help you manage it.
Dry Eye Syndrome is a common eye condition caused by insufficient tear lubrication in the eyes. There are many reasons for one to develop dry eyes. Our eye clinics, located in Melbourne, treat dry eyes to not only decrease or eliminate dry eye symptoms, but to help elevate eye discomfort.
You may have visited your doctor due to some of the following dry eye syndrome symptoms:
- Light sensitivity causing watery eyes
- Stinging or burning in the eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Red eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses due to eyes not lubricating sufficiently
- Fluctuating vision (blurred or changing vision)
Please note that these symptoms may be unrelated to dry eyes but are indeed symptoms many of our patients have attended our eye clinic to have treatment for dry eyes.
The best way to know whether you have Dry Eyes is to visit our eye clinic to have a Dry Eye Assessment.
Meibomian Gland Disfunction
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is a chronic, progressive and obstructive condition
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is the leading cause of dry eye disease. MGD is highly prevalent in the general ophthalmic population. In one study, 86% of patients with Dry Eye had Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
Over 745 million people worldwide suffer from Dry Eye.
MGD is characterised by gland obstruction, low secretions, and gland atrophy.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a chronic and progressive disease. MGD refers to the sebaceous glands located in the tarsal plate of the upper and lower eye lids, not producing enough oil or the oil is of poor quality.
Without enough or good quality eye lubrication, inflammation and damage can occur on your eye’s surface. Simply put, blocked Meibomian Glands result in a lack of oil over the surface of the eye causing it to easily dry out. This causes our eyes to itch being one of the known dry eye symptoms.
The below image shows what a patient with blocked Meibomian Glands and dry eye looks like.
Dry Eye Symptoms
When we blink incompletely, there is not enough pressure over the meibomian glands to release their liquid contents and spread the oil in the tear film. Over time the oils harden in the glands and blockages develop.
In this section, you will find a video of our incredible owner giving a walk-through on effective blinking exercises. They don’t take long and can be completed wherever most convenient for yourself. Enjoy!
OVER 1 IN 5 PATIENTS DON’T PRESENT WITH SYMPTOMS
MGD is not always obvious. Please refer to the following visuals.
All three of these patients have MGB. All our MDG go througha non-obvious stage that requires gland evaluation to detect. Each of our Optometry and Dry Eye clinics is provided with the latest, most advanced dry eye technology to catch and prevent your Dry Eye condition and symptoms as early as possible.
Book an initial Dry Eye Assessment consultation today
Non-obvious Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Obvious Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Obvious Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Complications
Complications of Dry Eye Syndrome
MGD is not curable. Although many of our patients report that it feels as though their MGD has been cured, MGD is a disease that must be monitored and managed once detected.
Some of the common symptoms of Dry Eye:
Dry, gritty or itchy eyes
Eye fatigue or blurred vision
Changes in focus, that improve after blinking
Difficulty with night-time driving
Depending on the level of your dry eye’s syndrome, day to day tasks can be difficult to perform due to the level of discomfort. It is not uncommon for our patients to explain to us how reading, driving, focusing or even crying is a struggle.
This is quite distressing for some of our dry eye patients. Our Optometrists understand the various levels of dry eyes and are here to not only reduce symptoms but help improve your everyday life.
Who are likely MGD Patients?
People who:
Spend extended periods looking at technology/ devices/ screens
Work or spend extended periods in air-conditioned environments
MGD Affects More than 50% Of Cataract Patients
Symptoms of untreated MGD have been shown to worsen after cataract surgery. 50% of cataracts with MGD don’t show any symptoms.
If untreated, dry eyes can cause damage to your eyes on a lesser or larger scale. This scale ranges from eye irritation to infection and even eye surface damage which can lead to corneal ulcers or vision loss.