Name: Dry eye: do eyedrops make them drier?
Uploaded: 2023-05-10T07:16:56.000Z
Duration: 14 min 40 s
Description: This video is about dry eye and how to properly manage it. Eyedrops are commonly recommended to those that suffer from dry eyes. Dry eye disease is estimated to affect about 7-14% of the global population. Meibomian gland dysfunction is a common cause of dry eye but a simple remedy could be to perform hot compresses

Dry eye: do eyedrops make them drier?

Why Eye Drops Don't Always Work

In this video, the speaker discusses why our eyes feel dry and how eye drops may not always be the best solution. Dry eye is divided into two categories: aqueous deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye. The speaker emphasizes that it's important to address the underlying causes of dry eye rather than just treating the symptoms with eye drops.

Causes of Dry Eye

Our eyes are covered with tears, which help protect and maintain the ocular surface.

Dry eye can be divided into two categories: aqueous deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye.

Aqueous deficient dry eye occurs when we don't produce enough water to keep the surface hydrated.

Evaporative dry eye occurs when we produce enough tears but they tend to evaporate too quickly leading to dryness.

Exposure to irritants such as dust, pollen or smoke, not enough blinking when at a computer, contact lens overwear, and excessive eye rubbing are common causes of dry eyes.

Why Eye Drops May Not Be Effective

Simply using more eye drops may not be effective in treating dry eyes because there must have been something that upset the eyes to begin with.

Targeting only the symptoms of dry eyes with artificial tears may provide temporary relief at best if underlying causes have not been addressed.

Treating Dry Eyes

The main objective is to protect the ocular surface from air by allowing our own tears to be produced so that we don't have to rely on artificial ones.

A great way of increasing the quality of our tears is to allow the meibomian glands to produce oil or mabum well enough to help retain moisture.

Consuming too much pro-inflammatory omega-6 oils as opposed to anti-inflammatory Omega-3s have shown to impact Maven secretion.

Eye Drops for Dry Eyes

In this section, the speaker discusses how eye drops can help alleviate dry eyes caused by various factors.

Benefits of Eye Drops

Eye drops can flush out irritants such as dust and pollen from the surface of the eye.

Eye drops can make up for a deficiency in tear production caused by various factors.

There are different formulations of eye drops targeted towards different types of dry eyes.

Proper Use of Eye Drops

Using eye drops without understanding why the eyes are dry may result in it feeling like a fruitless effort.

Seeking the help of an optometrist is recommended to accurately diagnose and tailor a management plan for the best outcome.

Conclusion

The use of eye drops can be beneficial in alleviating dry eyes caused by various factors. It is important to understand why the eyes are dry and seek professional help if needed.