Dry eye and eye allergy

Dry eye syndrome, eye allergy, and tear production

Dry eye is part of the natural aging process. It can also be caused by blinking or eyelid problems, cat allergy, dog allergy, mold allergy, medications like antihistamines, oral contraceptives and antidepressants, a dry climate, dry eyes lasik, wind and dust, dry eye and alcohol, general health problems like arthritis, nasal lacrimal duct problems, or Sjogren's syndrome and chemical or thermal burns to your eyes. Dry Eye is actually a group of diseases whose symptoms are dryness, grittiness, burning or a foreign body sensation. Dry eye can be divided into two general categories: inadequate tear production and normal tear production. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) describes a condition in which tear secretion is decreased. The most common cause of KCS is Sjogren's syndrome, which is characterized by dry eyes, dry mouth and a systemic autoimmune disease. Sjogren's syndrome, can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, AIDS and lymphoma. Dry eye can be caused by conditions other than those which cause decreased tear secretion. The most common cause of dry eye with normal tear secretion is blepharitis. In this condition there is either a lack of oily secretion within the tear or an abnormality of the oil which leads to inadequate coverage, or both. This results in increased evaporation of tears, as well as an increased ability of environmental pollutants to contaminate the tear film. Conditions which reduce or result in loss of the mucin tear layer are uncommon. They are usually caused by inflammation such as ocular pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a chemical burn or a vitamin A deficiency.

Dry eye treatment and allergy treatment consisting of allergy eye drops and punctal plug.

Depending on the causes, dry eye syndrome can be treated as a temporary problem or a lifelong disease requiring long term treatment by an ophthalmologist. A dry eye exam or allergy eye exam should be conducted to assess your vision health. Either way, tears must be conserved or replaced in order to provide relief. Replacing the Tears with artificial tears and eye drops are probably the most common form of treatment for dry eye symptoms. These will provide temporary relief, but with prolonged use, artificial tears can actually disrupt the eye's natural production of tears and lead to further aggravation of the condition, washing away the natural infection fighting tear film on the eye. In cases where there are persistent dry eye symptoms, permanent closure of the tear duct (punctal plug or occlusion) may be best. Punctal occlusion allows you to retain your own, natural tears without the bother or expense of constantly replacing the tear film with artificial tears. With a punctal plug tears stay on the eye longer.