Dry Eye Disease: A Nuisance or Something More?

Nearly everyone has experienced the discomfort of having dry eyes, be it on a windy day, after a sleepless night, or due to allergies. Dry eye disease goes beyond a one-off irritation.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye symptoms are wide-ranging, and almost all are uncomfortable. They generally affect both eyes.

Symptoms you might notice include:

A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Sensitivity to light
Eye redness
A sensation of having something in your eyes
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Difficulty with nighttime driving
Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes
Blurred vision or eye fatigue

Causes of Dry Eye

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a problem with the small glands that produce the oily component of your tears. If the oil balance in the tears is thrown off, you may feel a burning or itching sensation, or feel like sand or dust has made it way into your eye.

MGD is the most common cause of dry eye symptoms. Since the oily layer is meant to keep tears on your eye and smooth the surface of the eye while blinking, it’s no wonder problems with the glands cause dry eye.

Treatments for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction are available! Check out our dry eye treatment page to explore our offerings.

Disruptions in the Tear Film

Dry eye disease is caused by a disruption in the eye’s healthy tear film. The tear film spreads across your eye whenever you blink and keeps your eye’s surface clear and smooth.

There are 3 layers of the tear film:

The oily layer is the outside of the tear film, which stops the tears from drying up quickly
The watery layer is the middle of the tear film, which cleans the eye, washing away any irritants
The mucus layer is the inner layer of the tear film, which helps the tears adhere to the eye

If any of these tear layers is incapable of performing its job, dryness can occur.