Dry Eye Disease, (Keratitis Sicca) A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Dry Eye Disease (Keratitis Sicca), Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Dry eye disease occurs when there is a problem with the tears
That normally keeps the eye moist and lubricating clear.
Due to age something which we can not prevent
Dry eye disease may present as blurring of vision

The eye is continuously bathed by a layer of tear
This keeps the eye wet and the vision clear
The tears protect the eye against infection
And helps in healing of wounds inflammation.

Dry eye disease occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly
Or when the eye tears evaporate too quickly
And this results in damage of the ocular surface,
Irritation of the eyes or sometimes corneal ulcers

Dry eye disease can be managed as an ongoing condition
Cyclosporine is an anti-inflammatory medication
It decreases corneal damage and increases tear production
For severe dry eye disease short term use of steroid eye drops decrease inflammation

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Dry eye disease is a disorder in which a person does not have sufficient quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye.

Tears are essential for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for supplying clear vision.

Dry eye disease is a frequent and often chronic disorder, especially in older adults.

With each blink of the eyelids, tears move across the front surface of the eye, called the cornea.

Tears supply lubrication, decrease the danger of eye infection, clean away foreign matter in the eye and maintain the surface of the eyes to be smooth and clear.
Excess tears in the eyes enter small drainage ducts in the inner corners of the eyelids, which drain into the back of the nose.

The surface of the eye is continuously washed by a layer of tear which keeps the eye wet, protects the eye against infection and assists in healing of surface wounds.

A normal tear film comprises of 3 important components:
1. An oily (lipid) component
2. A watery (aqueous) component
3. A mucous-like (mucin) component

Each component of the tear film has a critical function.

The tear lipids help to prevent the tear film from evaporating too quickly and increase lubrication, while mucin helps to maintain and spread the tears across the surface of the eye.

Each tear component is secreted by different glands on or near the eye:

1. The oily component is secreted by meibomian glands in the eyelids.
2. The watery component is secreted by lacrimal glands located behind the outer aspect of the upper eyelids.
3. The mucin component is secreted by goblet cells in the conjunctiva that covers the white of the eye (sclera).

A disorder with any of these sources of tear film components can result in tear instability and dry eyes.

Dry eyes can happen when tear production and drainage is not in balance.

Dry eye disease happens when the eye does not produce tears properly or when the tears are not of the exact consistency and evaporate too rapidly and this induces damage of the ocular surface, irritation of the eyes or visual disturbances.

Inflammation of the surface of the eye may happen along with dry eye.

If left untreated this disorder can produce pain, ulcers or scars on the cornea and rarely loss of vision

Dry eye disease can be linked with:
a. Inflammation of the surface of the eye, the lacrimal gland or the conjunctiva;
b. Any disease process that alters the components of the tears;
c. A rise in size of the surface of the eye, as in thyroid disease when the eye protrudes forwards
d. Cosmetic surgery when the eyelids are opened too widely.

Dry Eyes can be treated with artificial tears, cyclosporine, lacrimal plugs, antibiotics for infections.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Dry Eye Disease
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Sjorgen Syndrome
Chapter 8 Conjunctivitis
Epilogue