• Due to a fire at the Penn Ave location, that office is temporarily closed. While it’s closed, we will be open in our Munhall office on Tues. 9am-7pm, Wed. 9am-4pm, and Thu. 8:30am-4pm in addition to our Mon. and Fri. regular hours.

  • Dry Eye Syndrome

    Dry eye syndrome is when the eye is unable to maintain a healthy layer of tears to coat it.

    See also:

    • Conjunctivitis
    • Decreased tearing
    • Sjogren syndrome
    • Vitamin A deficiency

    Causes, incidence, and risk factors

    Dry eye syndrome often occurs in people who are otherwise healthy. It is more common with older age, because you produce fewer tears with age.

    In rare cases, it can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and other similar diseases. It may also be caused by heat (thermal) or chemical burns.

    In areas of the world where malnutrition is common, vitamin A deficiency is a cause. This is rare in the United States.

    Signs and tests

    Signs include:

    • Reduced visual acuity
    • Thick cornea

    Tests may include:

    • Slit lamp (biomicroscope) exam of the film of tears (a dye such as fluorescein may be placed in the eye to make the tear film more visible)
    • Schirmer’s test — measures the rate of tear production using a calibrated paper wick placed on the edge of the eyelid
    • TearLab – the most accurate and objective test for diagnosing Dry Eye Syndrome

    Treatment

    Treatments may include:

    • Hot compresses or eyelash cleaning
    • Lubricating ointments (in more severe cases)
    • Medications such as Restasis, topical corticosteroids, and oral tetracycline and doxyccycline
    • Tiny plugs placed in the tear drainage ducts to help the tears stay on the surface of the eye
    • Wetting drops called artificial tears

    Surgery may be used if the eyelids are in an abnormal position.

    Expectations (prognosis)

    Most patients with dry eye have only discomfort, and no vision loss. With severe cases, the clear window on the front of the eye (cornea) may become damaged or infected.

    Complications

    Ulcers or infections of the cornea are serious complications.

    Calling your health care provider

    See your health care provider immediately if you have dry eyes and have:

    • A sudden increase in discomfort or redness
    • A sudden decrease in vision

    Prevention

    There is no way to prevent dry eye syndrome. You can prevent complications by using wetting and lubricating drops and ointments.

    Additional Information

    Top 20 Cities Susceptible to Dry Eye Syndrome:

    The National Women’s Health Resource Center named the top 100 dry eye hot spots in the United States based on the analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climatic Data Center and the Environmental Protection Agency. Six Factors which were evaluated include temperatures, humidity, wind, altitude, pollutants and ocular allergens.

    1. Las Vegas, NV
    2. Lubbock, TX*
    3. El Paso, TX*
    4. Midland/Odessa, TX
    5. Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
    6. Atlanta, GA
    7. Salt Lake City, UT
    8. Phoenix, AZ
    9.Amarillo, TX
    10. Honolulu, HI
    11. Oklahoma City, OK
    12. Albuquerque, NM
    13. Tucson, AZ
    14. Norfolk, VA
    15. Newark, NJ
    16. Boston, MA
    17. Denver, CO
    18. Pittsburgh, PA
    19. Bakersfield, CA*
    20. Wichita, KS*
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