3 New Dry Eye Updates

Tear production normally decreases as we age. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often affected. This is especially true after menopause.

The eye bathes itself in tears to stay moist. Some people don't produce enough tears for healthy eyes.  Moist eyes are essential to comfort and health.

The usual symptoms of dry eye include:

• stinging
• burning
• scratchiness
• stringy mucus
• excessive irritation from smoke and wind
• discomfort when wearing contact lenses
• watering eyes

Watering eyes from dry eye may sound illogical, but tears are also the eye's response to discomfort. If the tears responsible for maintaining lubrication do not keep the eye wet enough, the eye becomes irritated. Eye irritation prompts the gland that makes tears to release a large volume of tears, overwhelming the tear drainage system. These excess tears then overflow from your eye.

The mainstay treatment for dry eye is the use of artificial tears to help lubricate the eye.  Punctal plugs may be used to block the tear drainage system of the eyes.  Reastasis is the first prescription drop used for the treatment of dry eye.  It has been shown to increase tear production and decrease inflammation in patients with moderate to severe dry eye.

Here are 3 newer facts that have been circulating about dry eye:

1. A new artificial tear drop has recently come to market and is available only at the eye doctor's office.  Oasis TEARS™ is the only lubricating eye drop with a long lasting viscoadaptive agent to retain the active ingredient, glycerin, and that is also preservative-free. The viscoadaptive agent lubricates and moisturizes the surface of the eye for instant comfort. With each blink of the eye, it re-lubricates to provide prolonged relief.  Oasis TEARS™ is safe to use as often as needed since it contains no toxic preservatives and the active ingredient glycerin is a natural compound. Oasis TEARS™ lubricating eye drops are recommended and used by eye care professionals to provide long lasting relief from dry eyes.I have found these drops to be the best over the counter drop on the market.  My dry eye patients have been very happy with the results.
2. Results are positive from a proof-of-concept phase II clinical study in patients with dry eye disease using a proprietary, low-dose formulation of bromfenac, the active ingredient in bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% (Xibrom, ISTA Pharmaceuticals), the company announced.  Statistical significance was achieved in the primary endpoints of the objective sign of conjunctival staining (lissamine green test) and corneal staining (fluorescein test) as compared with baseline, according to the company. In addition, patients experienced statistically significant improvements in subjective symptoms measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index and in their most bothersome ocular symptoms. Although these results are early, there may soon be a new prescrition med for dry eye!
3. A study conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) has found that dry eye disease is common among American men aged more than 50 years, and it increases with age, high blood pressure, occurrence of benign prostate disease, and the use of antidepressants, according to a prepared statement issued by the hospital, as researchers reported in a June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. “The present study estimates that approximately 1.68 million men aged 50 or more years are affected with dry eye disease in the United States,” the authors wrote. “These data, derived from studying more than 25,000 men, show a significantly lower prevalence of dry eye disease than was found in a similar study using the same methods in U.S. women, among whom the prevalence was estimated at 3.23 million women. Nonetheless, there is a significant increase in the prevalence of dry eye disease with age among men, as is the case among women, and there is a predicted growth to 2.79 million U.S. men affected by dry eye disease in 2030.