Dry Eye Treatment Izmir

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when the amount of tears that should be regularly produced in a healthy eye decreases or when their quality deteriorates, preventing them from adequately protecting and nourishing the ocular surface and ensuring clear vision.

Until recent years, dry eye was mostly seen in elderly individuals. However, with the widespread use of digital devices such as phones, tablets, and computers, it is now increasingly observed in younger people and even in children. With each blink, the tears that are produced distribute across the surface of the eye, nourishing it, protecting it from infections, cleaning away foreign particles, and smoothing out the normally irregular ocular surface to prepare it for clear vision.

What Causes Dry Eye?

In a healthy eye, tears are produced consistently. With every blink — which happens 8–10 times per minute as a natural reflex — these tears are spread across the surface of the eye. After serving their purpose, the tears drain away through small ducts at the corners of the eye, and new tears are produced. This cycle functions perfectly in a healthy eye. However, if tear production decreases, drainage is impaired, or excessive evaporation occurs because the eyes are too exposed, this balance is disrupted, leading to dry eye. Patients with dry eye either have reduced tear production or poor tear quality.

Insufficient Tear Production:

Tears are secreted in three layers from different parts of the eye to form the tear film on the ocular surface. Tear production can decrease due to aging, certain medications, or systemic diseases. Environmental factors such as dry and windy air, air conditioning, mask use, excessive eye exposure, or reduced secretion in the lipid layer can increase evaporation, lowering tear levels on the eye surface and causing dry eye symptoms.

Poor Tear Quality:

The tear film has three distinct layers: aqueous, mucin, and lipid. The lipid layer prevents rapid evaporation, the mucin layer helps tears adhere evenly to the ocular surface, and the aqueous layer makes up the fluid component. Any imbalance or deficiency in these layers can cause symptoms of dry eye.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?

The symptoms of dry eye include:

• Redness
• Burning sensation or feeling as if there is sand in the eye
• Itching
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Increased mucus secretion around the eyes at times
• Sudden excessive tearing

How Is Dry Eye Diagnosed?

First, the patient’s complaints are carefully evaluated, and it is questioned whether there are any systemic diseases or medications that could cause dry eye. The eyelids, eyelashes, conjunctiva, and cornea are examined in detail.

The blinking reflex is observed. The corneal surface is stained with a special dye called fluorescein and examined under a blue light to detect dry areas on the cornea or conjunctiva. With the help of this dye, tear breakup time is also measured. In addition, a test called the Schirmer test is performed by placing special strips of paper at the corner of the eye to measure the tear quantity numerically.

Dry Eye Treatment Izmir, Turkey

If there is an underlying systemic disease causing dry eye, identifying and treating it is essential, because unless the systemic condition is managed, treating dry eye alone is almost impossible. Medication use is also reviewed, and if there are drugs known to cause significant dry eye, they are discontinued or adjusted (unless they are life-saving),in consultation with the relevant specialist.

The main goals of dry eye treatment are to supplement reduced tear production externally, stimulate natural tear production if possible, suppress inflammation, and preserve existing tears.

• Artificial Tear Drops: Available in many types; the dosage and formulation are chosen according to the severity of the patient’s condition.
• Supporting Tear Production: Omega-3 supplementation, a healthy diet, and proper sleep patterns can help.
• Reducing Inflammation / Treating Eyelid Margin Inflammation: Anti-inflammatory or antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed, along with eyelid hygiene instructions.
• Preserving Tear Levels: In resistant cases, tear ducts can be blocked with silicone or gel-like plugs, helping tears remain longer on the eye surface. These plugs can be removed when necessary.
• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy): A special laser system is used to unclog blocked eyelid glands, releasing the lipid layer into the tear film, thus improving tear quality and stability. This is a highly effective and minimally uncomfortable treatment.