Sahara Eyes: Finding Oasis in Dry Eye Treatments

by Dr. Kevin Solis

Did you know that over 344 million people worldwide are struggling with the uncomfortable and often debilitating symptoms of dry eyes?

From young children glued to screens for both education and entertainment, to seniors battling the natural aging process—no one is immune to this common condition. So why wait until your eyes feel like the Sahara Desert?

Let’s dive into understanding dry eyes and explore the solutions that can bring back the sparkle in your eyes!

Understanding Dry Eyes: Causes, Home Treatments, and Medical Solutions

To understand dry eyes, we must first understand a little bit more about our amazing tears. Tears are an essential component of eye health, serving several critical functions. They keep the surface of the eyes moist, provide nutrients, and protect against infections.

Although the tear film is composed of a myriad of small elements, we will concentrate on the three components forming the most important tear layers:

Lipid Layer: The outermost layer, produced by the meibomian glands, consists of oils that prevent the evaporation of the underlying watery layer.
Aqueous Layer: The middle layer, which constitutes the bulk of the tear film, is produced by the lacrimal glands. It hydrates the eye, supplies oxygen and nutrients, and removes waste products.
Mucin Layer: The innermost layer, produced by the goblet cells of the conjunctiva, ensures that the tear film spreads evenly over the eye’s surface.

When any of these layers are disrupted, the result can lead to dry eye syndrome, a condition that affects millions worldwide.

Common Causes of Dry Eyes

As you can see, dry eyes can result from various factors, with some of the most common causes being:

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): The meibomian glands, located within each of the eyelids, are responsible for secreting oils that form a protective layer over the tear film, preventing its evaporation. When these glands become clogged, the tear film evaporates too quickly, leading to dry eyes. Clogged meibomian glands are a very common condition with aging and can be present with other health conditions.
Prolonged Computer Use: Spending extended periods in front of screens can reduce blink frequency by as much as 60% ! Each blink spreads fresh tears across the eye’s surface, and fewer blinks can lead to tear evaporation and dry eyes, especially as the day continues.
Acne Rosacea: This skin condition can inflame the meibomian glands in the eyelids, impairing the oil production necessary for a stable tear film.
Thyroid Eye Disease: Thyroid disorders can affect the tissues around the eyes, causing dryness as the eyes may protrude, or the lacrimal gland may become compromised due to autoimmune activity.
Arthritis: Similar to Thyroid Eye Disease, this autoimmune disorder damages the lacrimal glands and leads to aqueous-layer deficiency dry eye.
Topical Skin Treatments: Certain acne medications and skin creams can irritate the eyes or disrupt the tear film, contributing to dryness.

Home Treatments for Dry Eyes

For those experiencing mild to moderate dry eyes, several home remedies can provide relief:

Preservative-Free Artificial Tears (PFATs): These lubricating eye drops can be used frequently throughout the day to supplement the natural tear film and alleviate dryness. Although PFATs may give temporary relief, they do not treat the underlying cause or disorder.
Warm Compresses and Lid Massage: Applying a warm compress to the eyelids for a few minutes, followed by gentle lid massage, can help unclog the meibomian glands and improve oil secretion.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation: Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet through supplements or foods like fish and flax seed can enhance the quality of the oils in the tear film, improving tear stability. Omega-3 supplements are recommended to be paired with the activity of warm compresses and lid massage but may take between 1-3 months to be incorporated into your tear’s oil layer, so consider these as a long term strategy to building and maintaining your tear film.
Increased Blink Awareness: Making a conscious effort to blink more often, especially during screen use, can help maintain tear film integrity and prevent dryness.

Medical Evaluation and Advanced Treatment Options

For persistent or severe dry eyes, seeking professional evaluation is crucial. Our clinic employs advanced diagnostic tools to provide a comprehensive assessment of dry eye syndrome. We use diagnostic stains to evaluate the tear film and the health of the ocular surface.

Additionally, we use the LipiView Eyelid Scanner to visualize the meibomian glands through an imaging technology called interferometry, allowing us to identify any obstructions or dysfunctions and gland atrophy.

One of the most effective treatments we offer is the LipiFlow device. This innovative device addresses meibomian gland dysfunction by applying controlled heat and pressure to the eyelids, facilitating gland clearance and restoring their natural function.

The treatment duration is approximately 12 minutes per eye and offers sustained relief.

The LipiFlow Device: Mechanism and Benefits

The LipiFlow device is designed to target the underlying cause of meibomian gland dysfunction.

It employs a combination of thermal pulsation to liquefy and evacuate the obstructed oils within the glands. This process reestablishes normal oil flow, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy tear film and preventing dry eye symptoms.

The benefits of LipiFlow include:

Expedient and Painless: The in-office procedure is quick and minimally invasive, taking only 12 minutes per eye, and is the most effective way a clearing the meibomian glands of years of clogged meibum, anaerobic bacteria, biofilm, and pro-inflammatory components.
Prolonged Symptomatic Relief: Many patients report significant and lasting improvement in dry eye symptoms following treatment. The LipiFlow treatment is akin to doing a year’s worth of self-directed warm compresses and lid massage in one in-office session! And although many people may maintain the gains of the LipiFlow treatment by continuing daily warm compresses and lid massage thereafter, it is not uncommon to repeat the LipiFlow treatment annually or semi-annually to maintain the therapeutic effects when the daily at-home habit of warm compresses and massage becomes less and less habitual.
Non-Surgical: It is a safe alternative to more invasive treatments, making it an attractive option for those seeking relief from dry eyes.

Final Recommendations

For individuals experiencing dry eye symptoms, seeking a professional evaluation is paramount.

Tailored treatment plans can significantly improve quality of life. Additionally, adhering to home treatment recommendations, such as frequent blinking, staying hydrated, and taking regular breaks from screens, can help maintain ocular health.

Proactive eye care is essential for maintaining overall ocular well-being.

If you are struggling with dry eyes, don’t hesitate to reach out to our clinic for a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment plan.

Your eyes deserve the best care, and we are here to help you achieve optimal eye health.