Dry Eye Disorder Explained by our Brooklyn Eye Doctor Staff

In Brooklyn, eye doctors often find that dry eye disorders are among the most prevalent complaints of patients especially as they get older. Most patients with dry eyes are otherwise healthy. Certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosis are associated with dry eyes.

About twelve million Americans suffer from dry eye syndrome. Symptoms include:

• Eye discomfort
• Burning
• Stinging
• Tearing
• Blurred vision
• Red eyes

Your eyes normally make small amounts of tears all day long. Tears play several important roles in keeping your eyes healthy and your vision clear. Tears lubricate the eye's surface, wash away debris, provide a smooth surface to help keep your vision clear, and also contain natural antibiotics that keep your eyes safe from germs that might cause infections.

For some people, the stinging, burning, redness and watering may seem like little more than a nuisance, but in fact, if left untreated, dry eye syndrome can lead to serious eye problems, including blindness. Dry eyes are inflamed eyes. Inflammation of the front surface of the eye increases the risk of some infections, and can also lead to scarring. Once scarring occurs, permanent loss of sight can occur.

Are tears essentially made of salt water?

Tears coat the eye in a smooth film made up of three separate layers. The layer of tears closest to the front surface of the eye is called the mucin layer. Its job is to smooth out the uneven spots on the eye surface. Next, a layer of aqueous tears covers the mucin layer. The aqueous layer is watery, and makes up the majority of the tear film. Its job is to lubricate the eye and keep it moist. The final layer of the tear film is an oily layer called the lipid layer. This is the outermost layer, and its job is to cover the aqueous layer and prevent it from evaporating.

Each layer of the tear film is made by a different part of the eye. The mucin layer is made by the eye surface itself. A tear gland tucked under the upper eyelid creates the aqueous layer and small glands in the eyelids create the lipid layer. For the tear film to do its job, all three layers have to be in their proper places in the correct amounts. If any layer is missing or abnormal—which can happen for a number of reasons—the tear film becomes disorganized and no longer soothes the eye like it should.

If I have dry eye, why do my eyes actually tear too much?

When the front surface of the eye gets dried out (causing stickiness) and gets inflamed (causing stinging and burning), the eye gets inflamed. Consequently, the eye ignores the proper tear film recipe and starts making large quantities of the aqueous layer in an effort to soothe itself. These bad tears do not soothe the eye at all—they just run down your face, washing away the mucin and lipid layers as well. This makes the eye even more irritated, so it makes even more bad tears, and the cycle continues.

What treatments exist for dry eye disease?

If you have symptoms of dry eye syndrome, ask us, your local Brooklyn eye doctor, for a dry eye evaluation. Treatments, including prescription medication, over-the counter drops and supplements, and punctal plugs are available to halt the disease and save your sight.

What are punctal plugs?

These are microscopic plugs that literally plug up the tear ducts of your eyes, found in the inner part of the eyelids. The plugs are made of comfortable silicone and designed to keep healthy tears that your eye produces from "running down the drain." Insertion of plugs is painless and performed in the comfort of our office in only a minute.

Punctal plugs are inserted into the tear ducts