Blog post by: Eye Physicians of Long Beach

Do you feel as if there’s something in your eyes? Are you struggling with eye fatigue, irritation, or blurred vision?

You may have dry eye. Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly.

Keep reading to learn more about dry eye and whether the condition has anything to do with your environment.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a condition caused by different factors affecting a healthy tear film. You need a healthy tear film to enjoy clear eyesight.

One of the reasons for tear film dysfunction is your environment.

What is the Tear Film?

The tear film is a thin, transparent layer that coats the surface of your eyes. It performs critical functions for clear, comfortable vision, including:

  • Hydrating and lubricating your eyes
  • It contains antibodies that protect the surface of your eyes
  • Flushes away bacteria and debris, which prevents inflammation and infection
  • Keeps the ocular surface smooth so that light reaches your retina for clear, sharp eyesight

 The tear film comprises three layers: oily, watery, and mucus, each with a specific role.

Oily Layer

The outermost layer is known as the oily or lipid layer. The meibomian glands create the oily layer of the tear film and sit on top of your tear film.

The role of the oily layer is to seal your tear film, keeping your tears from evaporating too fast.

Watery Layer

As the name suggests, the watery or aqueous layer consists of water. It makes up the bulk of your tears and is produced by the lacrimal glands.

The job of the watery layer is to provide nutrients, wash away foreign particles, prevent infection, and lubricate your eyes.

Mucus Layer

The mucus layer is the innermost layer and is secreted by the conjunctiva. The mucus layer helps the tear film spread evenly over the surface of your eyes, allowing your tears to stick to your eyes.

The mucus layer further ensures that your eyes remain moist. A problem with any of these three layers can lead to dry eyes.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

The symptoms of dry eye typically affect both eyes, and can include:

  • Dry eyes
  • Eye fatigue
  • Redness
  • Watery eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Blurred or double vision
  • A burning or stinging sensation
  • Difficulty wearing contact lenses
  • Stringy mucus around or in your eyes
  • Feeling like you have sand in your eyes

Dry Eye and Your Environment

Your environment can trigger dry eye or worsen your symptoms, with factors like the climate, air quality, and the weather contributing. Both outdoor and indoor environments can increase tear evaporation or disrupt the production of tears, causing dry eye.

Here are some of the ways your environment can impact dry eye:

Dry Environments

Living or working in dry environments like places with low humidity or arid climates causes or worsens dry eye. Dry environments increase the rate at which your tears evaporate, draining your eyes of much-needed moisture.

Environmental Allergies

Allergies can contribute to dry eye. The link between dry eye and allergies is due to outdoor allergens such as pollen, mold, smoke, dust mites, and pet dander.

These allergens can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The allergic reaction can lead to eye inflammation, which may decrease tear production and result in dry eye.

Sometimes, the inflammation can affect the meibomian glands. It can block these glands and prevent your eyes from producing healthy tears. As a result, you may experience dry eye.

Cold, Windy Weather

There are various reasons why you might have dry eye during winter. For instance, cold, bitter winds can blow in your face when you’re outside and cause your eyes to become too dry.

Indoor Environment

Your heater and air conditioner keep you warm or cool throughout the cold and hot months. But they can also wreak havoc on your eyes.

Both can considerably lower indoor humidity, making the air drier than usual. An especially dry environment may cause your tears to evaporate faster, making your eyes feel too dry and leading to uncomfortable symptoms.

Dry Eye Treatment

The proper treatment can aid you in managing your dry eye and relieving your symptoms. Depending on the cause and severity of your dry eye, your ophthalmologist at Eye Physicians of Long Beach may recommend the following treatment options:

Changing Your Environment

Changing your environment is an excellent way to alleviate your dry eye symptoms. Your ophthalmologist may suggest these changes:

  • Quitting smoking or staying away from cigarette smoke. Smoke from cigarettes can make you more likely to develop dry eye or irritate your dry eyes
  • Using a humidifier in your home. A humidifier adds moisture back to the air, alleviating your dry eyes
  • Wearing wraparound sunglasses. Wraparound sunglasses are a great way to protect your eyes from pollen, dust, harsh winds, and cold air

Prescription Medications

Prescription eye drops are usually the first line of treatment for dry eye. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe eye drops like Restasis and Xiidra.

These eye drops can help your eyes create more tears and decrease inflammation on the surface of your eyes, easing your symptoms. Inflammation reduces your eyes’ ability to maintain a healthy tear film.

Punctal Plugs

Your eye doctor may use punctal plugs to drain your tears and plug the tear ducts. Punctal plugs are tiny, biocompatible devices made from a silicone material.

These tiny devices keep tears in your eyes for longer, helping them remain moist to relieve your dry eye symptoms.

LipiFlow

LipiFlow is a breakthrough treatment that enables your ophthalmologist to address one of the leading causes of dry eye: blocked meibomian glands. The LipiFlow device applies precisely controlled heat and pressure on your inner and outer eyelids.

The heat and pressure open blocked meibomian glands. By unblocking these glands, oil can flow freely into your tear film, which prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly. The oil improves your tear quality and alleviates your dry eye symptoms.

Find Lasting Relief for Your Dry Eyes

Your environment can cause dry eye or exacerbate your dry eye symptoms. The good news is that treatment at Eye Physicians of Long Beach can soothe your eyes and provide long-term relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye.

Are you suffering from dry eye due to your environment? Schedule your appointment today at Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Long Beach, CA, to find lasting relief and keep your eyes healthy.