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NEW
Approaches
DRY EYE DISEASE
TO
Cover Story
By JoAnne Sommers
D ry eye disease is an ancient malady, first mentioned in the Ebers it should be treated to control eye
Papyrus, an Egyptian record of herbal knowledge (1550 BC). Yet we symptoms.
still have much to learn about what the Egyptians called “the water
Those at greatest risk for DED include
within”.
contact lens wearers. Cold, dry
Our understanding of dry eye disease is counselling patients about what elderly people, women, Asians and
(DED) has continually evolved over their diagnosis means, how treatments conditions and some medications are
time. The latest definition came work, and how they can improve their contributing factors.
from the Tear Film & Ocular Surface condition. It takes time, for instance,
Society Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS to explain why dry eye disease causes The incidence of DED is rising because
DEWS II) in 2017: “A multifactorial eyes to water. more people are working from home
disease of the ocular surface during the pandemic and spending
characterized by a loss of homeostasis Evaporative dry eye, the most common increased time looking at computer
of the tear film, and accompanied by type of DED, is caused by meibomian screens and other digital devices.
ocular symptoms, in which tear film gland dysfunction (MGD). The People stop blinking when staring
instability and hyperosmolarity, meibomian glands line the margins at screens so they don’t replenish or
ocular surface inflammation of the eyelids and release meibum, a distribute their tears. Facemasks also
and damage, and neurosensory lipid-rich secretion that protects the exacerbate the problem: exhaling into
abnormalities play etiological roles.” ocular surface. When the glands are a mask creates a draft over the eyes
blocked, the eyelids become sore and which speeds up tear film evaporation.
Dry eye affects up to 70 per cent of swollen, and the eyes feel scratchy, dry You can prevent that by using a mask
Canadians, says Dr. Will Ngo, head and irritated. with a well-formed wire that moulds to
of biosciences at CORE (the Centre your face and tape that keeps air from
for Ocular Research and Education), Aqueous-deficient dry eye occurs escaping.
University of Waterloo. Most people when the lachrymal glands don’t
diagnose themselves after experiencing produce enough tears. It accounts for Untreated, DED can create serious
dry/burning/stinging eyes in windy, about one-tenth of DED cases and problems, increasing the risk of eye
dry environments, or discomfort includes Sjögren’s syndrome-related infections. The eyes may become
following long periods of reading/ and non-Sjögren’s syndrome-related inflamed, and there is a greater risk of
computer use. The challenge for ECPs DED. If Sjögren’s syndrome is involved, scratching the cornea. Chronic, serious
6 / MAY - JUNE 2021 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /