DRY EYE SPA
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease that is generally not curable, but it is treatable. The goal is to control symptoms and prevent the damage the disease causes to the ocular surface.
This disease, in particular, significantly impairs the quality of life of patients due to its severity and, if not treated properly, can be debilitating.
Risk Factors
Air conditioning and wind sources such as fans, open car windows, hair dryers, and the interior environment of airplanes predispose to dryness of the ocular surface due to increased tear evaporation.
Similarly, reading and computer use decrease blinking frequency up to 40%, which increases tear evaporation and worsens dry eye symptoms.
Avoid environments with high levels of pollution and environmental contamination as much as possible. If these factors cannot be avoided, we recommend wearing prescription glasses or using eye lubrication.
Avoid places with very dry environments such as saunas and hot environments such as kitchens and fireplaces, and if possible, use a humidifier.
Analyze the work environment to detect factors that worsen symptoms.
When we cannot control the disease, we resort to occluding the tear ducts with surgery or mechanically with silicone plugs.
Attending the medical checkups suggested by us as treating ophthalmologists is essential to monitor and manage your condition in a controlled manner. It is very important for us to monitor your condition and verify whether you are on the path to improvement with the treatment currently in place or whether new medications are needed to address your condition in order to achieve your well-being.
Don't rub your eyes: Doing so triggers the body's release of cytokines and inflammation-causing substances. Rubbing also predisposes you to ocular surface damage and increases the risk of infection. Dry eyes are more prone to infection.
Voluntarily increase the frequency of blinking and, in very dry environments, voluntarily limit the total opening of the eyelids (do not keep your eyes wide open).
Avoid eye irritation of any kind (lack of sleep, particulate wind, tobacco smoke, volatile chemical irritants, chlorinated pools, etc.). Remember that dry eyes are a condition that has a lower resistance to everything.
Use of Glasses
Wearing glasses helps maintain greater moisture on the surface of your eyes. The space between your eyes and the glasses creates a microenvironment that slightly slows tear evaporation and prevents air currents and airborne pollutants from reaching your eyes.
Use of Medications
In addition to the measures we previously recommended, there are medications that help treat dry eyes:
Artificial tears: as drops for daytime application.
Artificial tears as a night gel, to be applied to the eye before going to sleep.