DRY EYE SYNDROME

Picture this: you wake up each morning with eyes that feel as parched as the Sahara Desert, struggling to carry out even the simplest tasks. Welcome to the world of dry eyes syndrome, a condition that impacts millions around the globe. Yet, it remains shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding. Let us dive into the fascinating realm of dry eyes together! We will uncover its surprising causes, recognize the telltale symptoms, and explore innovative treatments for those battling this challenging syndrome. Get ready for an eye-opening adventure!

So then, what is Dry eye Syndrome?

 WHAT IS DRY EYE SYNDROME?

Dry eyes arise when the eyes fail to produce a sufficient amount of tears or when the quality of those tears is inadequate for lubrication. Tears play a crucial role in lubricating and safeguarding the eyes; without them, they become dry, irritated, and inflamed.

The question may arise, “My eye doctor said I have dry eyes, but I cry a lot. If dry eyes mean not having enough tears, what comes out of my eyes when I cry?”

Now, we have two kinds of tearing;

1) Reflex tearing: Reflex tearing is when the eyes tear due to emotions, pain, or fright. It’s secreted from a gland called the main lacrimal gland. This type of tear is not what is needed to lubricate the eyes.

2) Basal tearing: Basal tear is primarily needed for keeping the eyes moist and lubricated. It is composed of 3 parts;

a) The mucus (adhesive part): The mucus part serves as the glue; it makes the tears stick to the eye; no wonder the tears don’t fall off the eye’s surface. It is secreted from the goblet cells of the conjunctiva.

b) The aqueous (watery) part: The aqueous part provides nutrients for the cells on the anterior eye surface. It is secreted from the accessory gland of Krause and Wolfring

c) The lipid (oily) part: The lipid part prevents tears from evaporating so fast when the eyes are opened. It’s secreted from the Zeiss gland and the meibomian gland.

So, you see how essential the components of the tear film are?

Every human tear should have the above components in the required proportions; if any part is slightly reduced, it will either affect the quantity or quality of tears produced.

So when we say you have dry eyes,  either your basal tear isn’t enough (quantity), or it has poor quality. Either way, you will experience several discomforts.

We will stop here; in our next post, we will look at the signs and symptoms of dry eye.

Prioritize your vision by booking an appointment with us at TREETOP VISION EYE CENTRE (TREVEC), the best eye clinic in Utako Abuja

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