What do you need to know?
- Zespół Suchego Oka to zaburzenie filmu łzowego, które prowadzi do niedoboru lub złej jakości łez i może powodować stany zapalne oraz uszkodzenia powierzchni oka.
- Symptoms include a feeling of sand under the eyelids, burning, irritation and rapid eye fatigue - the problem most commonly affects people over 40, but also occurs in younger people.
- Treatment can be symptomatic (artificial tears), causal (elimination of irritants), supportive (e.g. diet, supplements, eye hygiene) or surgical.
- A specialist should be seen when there is ongoing eye discomfort - prompt diagnosis and appropriately selected treatment improve comfort and prevent the problem from worsening.
In order for vision to be correct and your eyes to feel comfortable, their front surface is covered by a thin layer of tears. The tear film consists of three layers:
The innermost layer is the thinnest. This is the mucin (mucus) layer, which is produced by the conjunctival cup cells. The mucus helps the aqueous layer to spread evenly over the eye and smooths the surface of the cornea.
The middle layer is the thickest. This layer is 98% made up of water, and its production takes place in the lacrimal glands. The function of this layer is to keep the eyes properly moisturised, as well as to help flush out impurities or foreign bodies that may enter the eye. Its function is also to oxygenate the cornea and bring nutrients to it. Abnormalities in the aqueous layer of the tear film lead to dry eyes and, as a consequence, even to what is known as dry eye syndrome.
The outermost layer is a very thin lipid layer. Lipids are produced by Meibom's glands located in the eyelids and Zeiss' glands located on the eyelid margins. The main function of this layer is to reduce evaporation of the middle layer. In addition, the lipid layer ensures the stability of the tear film along with protecting the eyes from infection. It also enables the process of eyelid blinking (their gliding over the surface of the eye).
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common tear film disorder
This is usually a complex problem associated with a lack of normal tear volume or adequate tear film layers. It causes increased friction and excessive scaling of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium. It's a bit like if we didn't have enough engine oil in the car, or it was the wrong oil. We can imagine that after a certain period of time, the engine would be irreparably damaged. It is the same with our eyes. A lack of adequate tear quality or quantity leads to a disruption of the immune barrier, resulting in the development of infections and inflammatory processes.1
Who is most affected?
A significant proportion of the population suffers from it, especially people over 40, although it is increasingly affecting younger people. It is more common in women than in men. Dry eyes can be influenced by hormonal changes, the working environment (smoke, dust), frequent car or aeroplane travel or bad habits during visual work. Air-conditioned rooms, heating, prolonged computer work are just some of the situations that strongly influence dry eyes. Risk factors for Osteoporosis are also diseases of the protective eye apparatus, rheumatic diseases and diabetes, as well as the use of certain medications, such as anti-acne or anti-allergy medications. Currently, it is estimated that one in five people visiting the ophthalmologist complain of complaints indicative of Dry Eye Syndrome.2
Symptoms
Patients suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome experience constant discomfort manifesting itself most often:
- a feeling of sand or a foreign body under the eyelids
- irritation
- baking
- frequent eye fatigue
In the animal world, humans perform very poorly. Their tear film breaks down in less than 15 seconds, when in other animals it is stable for many minutes. After each blink, its stability is restored.
Treatment of tear film disorders
Depending on the cause of the disease, the severity of the disease and the patient's expectations, treatment can be:
- Causal
- Supporting
- Symptomatic
- Surgical
Most often, symptomatic treatment is used, as causal treatment is often very difficult. If the disorder concerns the aqueous layer of the tear film, moisturisers - so-called artificial tears - are used. These provide moisture to the surface of the eye and consist mainly of water and a viscosity-enhancing substance. The artificial tears available on the market today vary in content, pH and the type and amount of preservatives. Unfortunately, such „treatment” has its drawbacks - a short duration of action, making it necessary to apply them with great frequency and the impossibility of curing the disease. It is merely the prevention of unpleasant symptoms.
Undoubtedly, causal treatment is the most valuable, although it has very limited possibilities. It can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate the effects of harmful environmental factors.
A great deal of hope for patients with Osteoporosis is offered by the appearance on the market of anti-inflammatory preparations in topical drops. For the treatment effect to be positive, the treatment needs to last for several months in order to lead to the restoration of normal tear gland tissues and an increase in the production of the aqueous phase of the tear film. Improvements in the ocular surface also occur over time. For larger abnormalities in the corneal tissue, surgery may be considered.
Oral drug treatment and light therapies for the Meibomian glands are also used supportively. Various types of tear duct plugs, warming bands or wipes are also available to take care of eye hygiene and the protective apparatus.
Treatment can be supplemented with a proper diet and supplementation of essential fatty acids, sources of which include nuts, oily fish, rapeseed oil or soya.
It is worth remembering that it is important to make a prompt diagnosis and choose the correct treatment. Therefore, do not delay visiting your ophthalmologist if you are experiencing the symptoms described above.
You can also read more at: https://blikpol.pl/leczenie-zespolu-suchego-oka