Dry Eye Q&A by Dr. Crespo

There are many reasons why the eyes can be watery. Although watery eyes may be due to other causes such as allergies, or blocked drainage (nasolacrimal duct obstruction), the most common cause is typically some dryness. When the eyes are dry, there are nerves on the front surface of the eye that detect significant dryness. These nerves will then trigger a reflex of our nervous system to make more water. This reflexive production of tears tends to be an overcompensation of what is actually necessary to moisten the eyes. This overproduction of tears tends to spill off the eyes and onto our cheek as a result.

The short answer is no. The most common form of dry eye is evaporative dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. Meibomian gland dysfunction is not cured but can be easily treated. Dry eye syndrome cannot be cured because the underlying causes for dry eye often will deviate from their stable status even after treatment. Consider your visit to your dental hygienist for example. After a teeth cleaning, the plaque from your teeth is removed. Over time, plaque builds up again despite meticulous hygiene maintenance. The same is true for dry eyes.

There are many reasons why you could have dry eyes. The most probable reason for your dry eye is that the oil glands in your eyelid that protect moisture on your eye are clogged. However, dry eyes can be caused by changes in the environment, season, or even anatomical or physiological changes. There are many autoimmune conditions that can cause dry eyes as well.

This is a common symptom people experience when they have dry eyes. The most common culprit is that there is a dry patch that has formed on the eye. Just how you can form a dry patch on your skin, a dry patch can form on your eye as well. When this happens, depending on the severity of the dry patch, it can cause very significant discomfort and foreign body sensation.

The most commonly recommended at home remedy for dry eye that I recommend is hot compresses coupled with eyelid massage. After using a hot compress on the eye for 5 – 10 minutes, use your clean fingers to digitally massage the eyelids. This helps to augment the function of the meibomian glands. Moreover, it is quick and inexpensive compared to many other treatments involving eye drops (which are often a band-aid).

Children can have dry eyes but this is not too common. Children often have blepharitis that parents are unaware of and this can lead to dry eyes and dry eyes symptoms.

Anyone can use over-the-counter eye drops to treat their dry eye. Moisturizing eye drops may provide relief, however that relief is typically short in duration. There is an underlying cause of dry eye and it should be evaluated by an eye doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dry eyes can progress and cause you to feel more uncomfortable over time. It’s highly recommended to assess the cause of the dry eye professionally before more inflammation could potentially accumulate on the eye.