Archives: Lessons

Conclusion Dry eye syndrome has many causes with varying symptoms and severity. With the aging population, increased digital device use, and increase in systemic disease prevalence, more patients will experience dry eye symptoms. These symptoms may progress to impacting the patient’s quality of life. As an eye care provider, it is essential to address the … Continued

Meibomian Gland Expression 52 Meibomian gland expression is a procedure to help with meibomian gland dysfunction. Using a meibomian gland expression tool, on either side of the lid margin, the eyelid margin is squeezed to express the meibum. This procedure improves tear film quality by removing any blockage within the glands.  Intense Pulse Light (IPL) … Continued

Inserts A special insert might be used day, night, or every twelve hours. The insert is carefully inserted by the patient into the lower lateral cul-de-sac by use of a special inserter. Some have an active ingredient of hydroxypropyl cellulose, while others use slightly different ingredients. These types of inserts provide hours of comfort without … Continued

Warm Compresses and Lid Scrubs As mentioned previously, warm compresses and lid scrubs are helpful, low-cost treatment options, with commercial lid scrubs making the process more convenient for patients. Warm compresses help to improve meibomian gland function by opening the glands, resulting in increased oil flow, stable tear film, and decreased tear evaporation. It is … Continued

Dry eye due to side effects of drugs and medical treatments Medical treatments, especially over the counter and prescription drugs, frequently have dryness to the eye listed as a side effect. Some of these medications and treatments that list eye dryness as a side effect are: antihistamines, cold and allergy preparations, oral hormones and contraceptives, … Continued

Associated Conditions Systemic Diseases Any disease, environmental factor, or medicine that can alter the composition of the tear film can lead to dry eyes. Some systemic conditions that can cause dry eye symptoms in patients are: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis, Graves’ Disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, antigen or autoimmune disorders, and a variety of other … Continued

Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) The test contains only five questions, making it one of the quickest to complete and grade. The survey asks patients to rate the severity of eye discomfort, dryness and wateriness they experience over the last month. The survey contains less than half the questions of the OSDI, but has shown to … Continued

Surveys There are various surveys that have been studied to help quantify a patient’s symptoms. This is helpful in the diagnosis of dry eye syndrome and also in the management of the condition. The following are examples of surveys that are used clinically.  Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) The SPEED test is a … Continued

Rose Bengal 17 Rose Bengal is a red dye that can effectively stain degenerated epithelial cells and outline cells that are damaged. Often used to diagnose keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and other conditions associated with dry eye, the desquamated cells will clearly show on the conjunctiva as brown spots. The green filter and high magnification levels … Continued

Exam Testing Visual Acuity Transient visual blurring that clears upon blinking can be caused by dry eyes. Corneal edema can also be caused by dry eye syndrome, resulting in visual changes. The resultant steepening of the corneal curve can cause transient myopia. Another disturbance to visual acuity is caused by excessive mucin production that can … Continued