WHAT IS THE DRY EYE ?

The Dry Eye is a tear film disorder due to reduced production or excessive evaporation of tears, which causes damages to the exposed ocular surface and is associated to a sensation of eye discomfort.

Excessive evaporation of tears (cause of 86% of Dry Eye cases) is induced by the obstruction or malfunction of the Meibomian glands that are located in the eyelids, and are responsible for producing the tears lipid layer.

When not working properly, the Meibomian gland does not produce enough oily components for the tear film, which consequently evaporates quicker. Insufficient or absent lipid layer, can cause tear evaporation up to 16 times faster.

• Over 300 million people worldwide suffer for the Dry Eye Syndrome.

• In Italy it involves 26% of adult population, but this syndrome mainly affects women over 40 years old (50%) and those in menopause (90%).

Risk factors

• Allergic conjunctivitis

• Hormonal imbalances – Menopause

• Use and abuse of eye cosmetics

• Use of contact lenses.

• Chronic blepharitis

• Age (especially after age 50)

• Prolonged use of video terminals

• Prolonged use of systemic drugs (i.e antihistamines, etc)

• Air pollution

Diagonsis

Dry eye diagonsis should always be made Opthalmologist with reliable tests, thus avoiding self diagonsis and treatment “over the counter”. The Opthalmologist will consisder a number of parameters and correct the therapy for each specific case.

The cure

There are several solutions for the dry eye problem, going from artificaltears (eyedrops) to a new generation of therapeutic treatments.