Not A Dry Eye In The House
By Ronda Addy

Almost 3.2 million American women and one million American men age 50 and over suffer from dry eye. Dry eye occurs most often in the elderly, especially women. Let's take a look at some of the symptoms of dry eye and what can be done to ease the condition.

There are three major parts of the tear film of the eye. When these parts are not working correctly, you get dry eye syndrome.

 Lipid. This is the outer layer of the tear film, which is covered by an oily layer produced by meibomoian glands in the upper and lower eyelids. This layer smoothes the eye's surface, stops the tears from evaporating too fast and helps keep them on the eye.

 Aqueous. This watery layer is made up of what is considered tears and is produced by the lacrimal gland. It nourishes the cornea and the conjuctiva. It also washes out the foreign matter that is caught in the mucin and cleanses the eye.

 Mucin. This watery layer is produced from goblet cells of the conjuctiva and surface cells of the cornea and the conjuctiva. It keeps the eye wet and traps foreign objects so they can't damage the ocular surface.

Someone who has dry eye can't produce enough tears or has poor quality tears and/or excessive tear evaporation. If you have dry eye, your eyes may burn or sting, feel scratchy, tear excessively and/or become irritated. Having dry eye also makes it hard for someone to wear contacts. Other symptoms include stringy mucus in or around the eye, pain or redness of the eye, a change in vision or eyelids that feel heavy. Eye infections are more common in individuals with dry eye, and in severe cases, a sensitivity to light can develop. Despite all of this, irreversible loss of vision because of dry eye is very rare. Some people who have dry eye report having problems with reading and driving.

There is no cure for dry eye, but the symptoms can be treated. The most popular treatment is over-the-counter artificial tears. Used at night, these lubricants help lubricate the eye during sleep and soothe the scratchy feeling dry eye sufferers experience when they wake up. For those who have moderate to severe dry eye, a temporary or permanent plug can be placed into the channel at the inner corner of the eyelid where the tears drain, thereby conserving the tears.

To avoid dry eye, try these tips:

 Wear glasses on windy days.

 Wear goggles when swimming.

 Don't direct hair dryers or car air conditioners or heaters directly at your face.

 Keep your home's humidity between 30 and 50 percent.

 Use a humidifier in the winter.

 Watch what medications you take. Nasal decongestants, tranquilizers, antidepressants and antihistamines can make your eyes feel dryer.

 Watch what you eat. Tea, colas, coffee and chocolate all contain caffeine, which can remove moisture from your body. Drink lots of water. Eat a low-fat diet that includes at least five servings of fruits and vegetables.

 Practice good eye care habits. Wear sunglasses with the maximum UV protection and safety glasses when doing hazardous work or participating in a dangerous sport.

 Don't forget to blink. On average, people blink once every five seconds.