DRY-EYE SYNDROME

WHAT IS DRY EYE SYNDROME
HOW ARE TEARS FORMED
HOW DOES DRY EYE SYNDROME DEVELOP
WHO IS AFFECTED
SYMPTOMS OF DRY EYE SYNDROME
DETECTION & DIAGNOSIS
WHAT WOULD HELP
WHAT CAN HOMOEOPATHY DO
COMMON HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

A few tears down the cheeks can give solace to a disturbed mind but it can get worse if one cannot shed tears when you need to cry and it can perturb to no end, Tollywood and the everlasting soaps (dubbed and non dubbed) on the idiot box if their best characters need to run for artificial tears at the call of duty.

Nonetheless half the number of men in this world wouldn’t mind their better halves afflicted with the same for reasons difficult to predict.

Well then welcome to the topic of Dry-Eye syndrome wherein the above possibilities are a common place when the eyes are unable to produce the amount of tears necessary for its own lubrication.

WHAT IS DRY EYE SYNDROME

Inadequate production of tears, decrease in quality of tears causing red, gritty, sand like sensation or dryness in the eye leading to various ailments of the eye over a period of time is called Dry Eye syndrome.

HOW ARE TEARS FORMED

• Tears are a body’s natural mechanism to protect the eye from infection and from corrosive effects of dirt, dust and other airborne particles. They provide a smooth clear surface so that vision remains clear and undistorted. All this is possible because they provide a wet, lubricated surface over the eye.
• Tears are a combination of three layers over the eye.
• The outermost thin layer or the lipid layer is produced by the meibomian glands and helps in prevention of evaporation of tears from the eye.
• The middle layer of tears is formed by the lacrimal glands and the main constituents are water with salinity and acidity. The function of this layer is to carry antibodies and immune defence agents which would help ward away and fight infections.
• The inner most layer is formed by the conjunctiva and the surface cells called the mucin layer and would help in “sticking of the tears” to the cornea.

HOW DOES DRY EYE SYNDROME DEVELOP

• Decreased production of tears due to inflammation of lacrimal glands leads to a condition called Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
• Deficient production of mucin layer causes instability of the tear surface and does not adhere to the cornea causing dry eye. (Immune related diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis etc.)
• Any infection or condition related to the meibomian glands (ex: Thyroid diseases) leads to thinness of first surface of the eye or lipid layer causing evaporation of the tears leading to pressure on increased production of the lacrimal glands.
• The corneal surface could be affected due to infection, injury, drugs like anti histamines, antibiotics and anti diarrhoeal which have affinity for mucus membranes of the body, certain medicines used during general anaesthesia causing ulcers or scars. These remain as dry spots due to which the tear film finds difficulty in adhering to the cornea. Any condition in which there is inability of complete closure of eyelids leads to some areas of eye where the lubrication does not reach and over a period of time lead to dry eye which left unnoticed.
• Dry eyes could be due to normal aging process and as we grow old our eyes may produce as much as 65% less when compared to teenagers.
• Environmental factors like living in hot, dry, windy climates, high altitudes and exposure to air conditioned air for prolonged hours can cause dry eye. Exposure to computer and TV screens, reading for prolonged hours can cause the same.
• Menopausal women are more prone to this condition.
• People using contact lenses over a period of time if not sterilized properly or softened properly can hurt their cornea and lead to dry eye syndrome. Also the adherence of the lenses to the cornea would be affected.
• Last but not the least is deficiency of Vitamin A, which can cause Xerophthalmia. (Dry Eye)

WHO IS AFFECTED

Dry eye can occur in either sexes and people of any age. It is more common in elderly people where the tear production gradually decreases.

Patients suffering with autoimmune disorders like Rheumatoid Arthritis and people suffering with allergies can be affected more often with this syndrome.

SYMPTOMS OF DRY EYE SYNDROME

• Patients suffering from this condition say that they have a foreign body sensation with burning, itching and general discomfort in the eyes. The discomfort is in the form of scratchy, dry, sore, smarting, gritty, sand like sensation in the eyes with burning and smarting kind of pain.
• A good percentage of patients also suffer from intolerance to light, intermittent blurring of vision and sometimes disturbance of visual acuity.
• During tasks requiring concentration the number of times we blink unconsciously reduces and since the amount of tears bathing the eyes decreases while reading, watching television the chances of dry eye increases. Reduced blinking also gives a chance to the tears being evaporated quickly.
• People using contact lenses over a period of time can lead to their tear layers being affected and leading to some dry spots over the cornea and gradually leading to lens intolerance.
• People sensitive to pollen, dust or smoke can easily worsen their condition on exposure to the same.
• When the quality of tears is reduced or the essential component which gives salinity to the tears is lost, as a response our tear glands produce more amount of tears to compensate for the same and as a result we see the eyes more flushed with tears and sometimes tears flowing down the cheeks in case of children but the paradox on examination we would know is because of Dry eyes.

DETECTION & DIAGNOSIS

Tests in which fluorescent dyes and introduced into the superficial eye – tear layers and the extent and time they take to spread over the eyes will give us an idea about Dry Eye syndrome. It will also confirm if there are any scars on the cornea.

Also a simple examination called Schirmer Test in which tiny blotting papers are put on the lower eyelids and if the wetness permeating into the paper will give us an idea if there is decrease in tear production.

All the above non invasive investigations confirming Dry Eye Syndrome would be done by a competent Ophthalmologist.

WHAT WOULD HELP

Using artificial tears as prescribed.

• Avoiding exposure to probable allergens like tobacco smoke.
• Reducing exposure to excessive air-conditioning.
• Consciously blinking the eyes when reading or watching television for a prolonged time.
• To wear transparent or tinted glasses while exposure to dust, smoke, heat of sun etc.
• Avoiding rubbing the eyes which will affect the tear layers.
• Drinking about ten glasses of water a day to keep the body hydrated and help in flushing away the impurities.

  Also if we pay attention to our body it will also tell us the condition in which are comfortable and to follow the same.

WHAT CAN HOMOEOPATHY DO

• Well any treatment for this condition would need to follow three steps.
• To replace natural tears, enhance natural tears and to retain natural tears.
• Artificial tears are available preferably without preservatives which would help in maintaining the lubrication for some time as and when necessary.
• To improve the production of tears and to reduce the evaporation of tears.

COMMON HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
ALUMINA for characteristic dryness of mucus membranes of the body also helps for dry eyes where there is burning and smarting sensation in the eyes usually worse during evening.
ARSENIC is the remedy for burning and smarting sensation of the eyes and is known to help for corneal ulceration.
BRYONIA is the remedy for dryness of serous membranes of the body and causes a soreness of eyes worse on touch.
EUPHRASIA would relieve any eye ailment atleast to a certain extent and can cure dryness caused by injury or friction probably due to contact lens.
Sometimes there is excessive watering of eyes when the quality of tears do not have enough electrolytes and NATRUM MUR would help the balance of the tears.
When there is extreme dryness of eyes, too dry to close the lids NUX MOSCHATA is of help.
On slightest change of weather if dryness become troublesome PULSATILLA is the remedy.
Burning sensation in the eyes and ulceration of the cornea due to chronic dryness SULPHUR will cure it.
XEROPHYLLUM will help if there is sand like sensation in the eyes and has difficulty in concentration on close work and gets worse due to eyestrain.
ZINCUM MET has been known to increase the quantity of tears.
ZINCUM SULPH is known to limit opacities of cornea resulting due chronic dry eye syndrome.

Dr. Venugopal Gouri
Consultant Homeopath