Dry Eyes and Blepharitis
Tears are essential for proper functioning of the eye. Tears lubricate the surface of the eye, contains antibodies to prevent infection, and maintain the clarity of your vision.
The tear film is complex and consists of 3 layers. There is a sticky mucous layer that coats the surface of the cornea. Above this is the middle watery layer of tears. Finally, on the very surface is a thin oil layer that slows down the evaporation of the tears. A disruption to any of these 3 layers will lead to poor lubrication, blurry vision, and irritation.
Structures of the eye involved with tear production
One of the most common causes for having dry eye is a reduction of the water layer in the tears. When this happens, the salts and proteins in the tears become more concentrated. This, along with poor lubrication is what leads to the stinging and burning sensation. Supplementing with artificial tears or using Restasis can help.
Another reason for having dry eye is having a poor oil film on the surface of the cornea. The oil in the tears come from small meibomian glands at the edge of the eyelid, very near the eyelashes. If there is a lack of oil coming from the glands, the tears dry up more quickly causing you to blink more frequently. Blepharitis is a common cause for having poor oil production. Treating the blepharitis can significantly help with eye dryness.
Blepharitis is a condition where there is a chronic low-grade inflammation of the eyelid. This often occurs when the oil glands at the edge of the eyelid become blocked or clogged. Sometimes due to people having different body chemistry, or during colder months in the year, the oil in the glands becomes thickened and gets trapped within the glands. Fresh oil is unable to escape from behind and the eye becomes dry. In addition, when stagnant oil stays on the eyelids, this becomes a food source for bacteria that then start to grow. The bacteria secrete toxic substances and the eyelid reacts by becoming flaky, red, and inflamed. In more severe cases, the backup of oil collects into a pocket forming a stye. Styes can be painful and sometimes need to be surgically drained if they don’t improve.
Perimenopausal dry eye is very often related to the slowing of the meibomian secretions. Oral supplements containing fish oil or flax seed oil are a safe and effective way to boost the oil layer and change the nature of the secretions. They become more fluid and contain more omega-3 fatty acids, which tend to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
