1 in 4 people in the UK suffer from dry eye, but what is it exactly?

Your eyes are constantly lubricated by a tear film spread across the eye by blinking. The tear film is more than just water – it is made up of an aqueous component, plus oil, which helps to stop the tears from evaporating, plus mucin – a type of mucus.

Tears are produced in the lacrimal gland, oil is produced in the Meibomian gland, and mucin is produced from goblet cells in the conjunctival membranes. The tear film is being constantly produced and drains away through the nasolacrimal duct into the back of the nose.

Tears contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial substances which help keep the eyes healthy and infection-free. One important component is the oil which contains omega-3 fatty acids, obtained from the diet. Mucin contains the immunoglobulin IgA which protects mucosal surfaces.

Without enough tears, our eyes are very quickly under stress. The tears lubricate the eye, protect the cornea, wash out dirt and debris, and fend off infecting organisms. Tears also contain chemical messengers such as transforming growth factor-beta, which regulates the growth, development and repair of eye tissues.

Dry eye may not be due to one underlying cause – it may be due to a combination of factors.

You might think you would know if you had dry eye as your eyes would feel dry. Although this is often the case, sometimes dry eye can be linked to a range of other symptoms and you may not realise you have it.

Here are some of the ways dry eye can affect you:

Dry eye can cause blurred vision and other visual disturbances

An Eye specialist such as an Optician, Optometrist or Ophthalmologist is the best person to see regarding a possible diagnosis of dry eye. They may perform a variety of tests –

You may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your eye symptoms, which helps the specialist assess and grade the severity of your symptoms.

there are personal, medical and medicinal ways to help with dry eye including:

Start by doing what you can to keep your eyes healthy. This means:

If you have any dry eye symptoms that are persistent, for more than a week or two, or causing distress you should seek help.

See a Pharmacist, Optician or GP, for an assessment, help and advice on how to care for your eyes and soothe symptoms. They will advise you on how to use eye drops, gels and ointments, and/or anti-allergy treatments.

If your symptoms are severe, or not settling, you may need to go to the Eye Unit to see a Consultant Ophthalmologist. You can be referred to your local NHS Eye Department.

If the eye is red, painful, and/or you wear contact lenses, phone NHS 111 and ask for an urgent appointment.

If this is an eye emergency, call 999 or go to A and E or the Eye Unit without delay.

If this is an eye emergency, call 999 or go to A and E or the Eye Unit without delay

An eye emergency could be:

Apply a warm compress to the eyes. The heat from the compress opens up the Meibomian glands and stimulates the production of oil, increasing the flow of oil onto the front of the eye. The oil stabilises the tear film as it reduces the evaporation of water.

Why not try a specifically designed product such as the Optase moist heat mask? You heat this in the microwave and place the pad over your eyes.

Many people remain unaware they have dry eye disease. Yet a 2021 Southampton study revealed that dry eye reduces the quality of life, affecting mobility, difficulty with day-to-day living and contributing to anxiety and depression. It also affects social and emotional well-being and can be an underlying cause of time off work and lost productivity at work.

I find it fascinating that dry eye can affect us in so many ways from headaches and eye strain, to difficulty driving. Who would have thought that dry eye can actually cause your eyes to water?

If you have any of the symptoms or signs of dry eye disease, perhaps now is the time to see an Eye specialist.

– What could you do to improve the health of your eyes?

For more information

– NHS – Dry eyes

This piece was written and provided by Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Online Pharmacy