Dry Eye Disease Authors:Ǫdry Carolineeye Yu, Diseasemd; Taylor Cork, BS; Erin Shriver, MD, FACS

Dry Eye Disease Authors:ǫDry CarolineEye Yu, DiseaseMD; Taylor Cork, BS; Erin Shriver, MD, FACS

Dry Eye Disease ǫDry eye occurs when your eyes do not ǫproduce enough tears or make the right type Dry eye of tears. occurs As when many your as 1eyes in 5 doAmericans not Dryproduce eye occursenough when tears your or make eyes the do rightnot have dry eye disease. It can happen for manyproducetype of reasons, tears. enough As including manytears oras othermake 1 in 5medical the Americans right Fig 1. Your tears are made of three layers: an conditionstypehave ofdry tears. eye and disease.As medication many Itas can 1 use. in happen 5 Americans for oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and a havemany dry reasons, eye disease. including It canother happen medical for mucus inner layer. Fig 1. Your tears are made of three layers: an conditions and medication use. many reasons, including other medical oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and a mucusFig 1. Your inner tears layer. are made of three layers: an conditions and medication use. oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and a mucus inner layer. ǣ x Red, irritated, stinging, scratchy eyes x ǣ Mucus in or around your eye x Frequent tearing or watering x Blurred vision that comes and goes ǣx x x LightRed, irritatedsensitivity, stinging, scratchy eyes x EyeMucus fatigue in or around your eye x x x Red,Frequent irritated tearing, stinging, or watering scratchy eyes x MucusBlurred in vision or around that comes your eye and goes x x Eye fatigue x LightFrequent sensitivity tearing or watering x Blurred vision that comes and goes x Light sensitivity x Eye fatigue

ǣ Reduce first- and Reduce Wash off second-hand ǣ screen time makeup fully smoke exposure Reduce first- and Reduce Washevery nightoff second-hand Reduce first- and Reducescreen time Washmakeup off fully smoke exposure every night second-hand screen time makeup fully smoke exposure every night Adjust CPAP Avoid windy Use warm fit to reduce air and dry compresses to leakAdjust CPAP Avoidclimates windy Useimprove warm eyelid compressesInflammation to fit to reduce air and dry Use warm Adjust CPAP Avoid windy improve eyelid leak climates compresses to fit to reduce air and dry Inflammation improve eyelid EyeRounds.orgleak climates Inflammation

EyeRounds.org

EyeRounds.org Treatment:

 Artificial tears Use artificial tears regularly before you start feeling symptoms. Most people need to use 3-4 drops daily in order to see an effect. If you use artificial tears more than 4 times a day, it is important to use preservative free (PF) formulations. Some example of drops that are available over the counter are1:

Thin consistency Thick consistency

Lipid NanoTears TF (PF) Retaine MGD (PF) (oil) Oasis Tears Plus Systane Balance replacement Oasis Tears (PF) Refresh Optive Mega-3 Retaine MGD (PF)

Aqueous Bion (PF) Blink Tears (water) GenTeal (PF) GenTeal gel replacement Refresh Optive Advanced (PF) Soothe XP Emollient (PF) Soothe (PF) Systane gel drops Systane Ultra (PF) Refresh Celluvisc (PF)

TheraTears (PF) Refresh Optive Gel Drops

 Lubricating ointments These are most commonly used at bedtime because they cause blurry vision. Apply a small amount to the corner of your eye, then rub the lower eyelid and blink to spread evenly. Keeping the ointment tube warm will help it come out more easily. GenTeal Gel (PF) Systane Nighttime (PF) Soothe (PF) Refresh Lacrilube Refresh PM (PF)

Ocular Lubrication – Please do not use any that say “Redness Relief” or “Gets the Red Out”

Other Treatments:  Prescription eye drops (Restasis, Xiidra, Autologous Serum Tears, other)  Oral antibiotics  Punctal Occlusion: In-office procedures using plugs (a tear duct drain “stopper”) or cautery to help keep tears on the surface of the eye for longer

1 - Specific name brands are given as examples only. The University of Iowa does not endorse any specific product and does not have any financial relationships with these manufacturers.