Dry Eye in Children

What is Dry Eye Syndrome and Why Do Doctors Sometimes Misdiagnose Children?

Dry eye syndrome occurs when eyes are unable to maintain healthy layers of tears. While dry eye syndrome is most commonly seen among the adult population, younger demographics are susceptible as well and symptoms can be just as severe in children as in adults. Because the condition is rare in children, doctors often rule out dry eye syndrome soon and patients are misdiagnosed. If your child is complaining about his or her eyes, pay attention. Be attuned to which complaints may indicate that your child needs treatment for dry eye syndrome.

What Can Cause Dry Eye in Children?There are a multitude of causes of dry eye in children. Dry eye can result from mucin deficiency, causing the eyes to dry out. Mucin deficiency often results from vitamin A deficiency so a balanced diet can help to prevent this. Lipid deficiencies can also be a factor. Excessive eye straining activities such as television watching, using a computer, and reading can also lead to dry eye symptoms. Finally, dry air conditions, contact lens use, and certain medications can contribute.

Symptoms:           

Parents might be tempted to rule out dry eye syndrome when a child does not specifically complain of dryness in or around the eye. Interestingly, however, many children suffering to dry eye syndrome do not explain their symptoms in terms of dryness. Rather, children are likely to complain that their eyes are “burning”, “scratching”, “itching”, or just plain irritated. If your child is complaining of such symptoms, dry eye syndrome is certainly a possible culprit. If your child’s symptoms tend to vary along with environmental changes, dry eye syndrome is even more likely. Dry eye patients will often experience exacerbated symptoms in dry or windy locations, and on airplanes where air humidity levels are significantly lower.

What to expect at the doctor’s office:

Expect to answer a series of questions with your child about your child’s symptoms. In addition, your doctor should ask you if your child ever sleeps with his or her eyes open, if your child suffers from any other conditions and if your child is taking any medications (which may contribute to dry eye symptoms). Finally, your doctor can order a Schrimer test to determine whether the eye is producing enough tears to stay moist. Generally, the test begins with the child’s doctor placing a testing strip inside the lower eyelid of each eye and having the child sit with both eyes closed for five minutes. The strips are then removed and the doctor measures how moist the strips are.

Treatment:
Treatment will vary depending on the specific cause of your child’s dry eye syndromes. Your child may be advised to change contact lenses, switch medications, cut back on eye straining activities, or improve his or her diet to include more vitamin A specifically. Antibiotics may be applied directly to the lid margin in small amounts. Finally, it is always important for dry eye patients to adhere to proper eyelid hygiene. Lid scrubs help keep lid margins clean and free from debris. OCuSOFT offers a great line of eyelid cleansers and scrubs for dry eye patient use.

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Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye

Dry eye disease has many causes and is now being linked to another serious condition Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. If you have sought treatment to no avail, chances are your lack of relief might stem from improper care of your condition since artificial tears and other traditional dry eye treatment do not address the meibomian gland dysfunction as effectively.

What is the Importance of Meibomian Glands?

They are a kind of sebaceous gland at the rim of the eyelid and are responsible for supplying meibum, an oily layer that maintains a stable tear film and reduces evaporation of the tears. Changes in the functionality of the meibomiam glands can seriously impact tear production. Some people have only slightly altered production, however, others have significantly decreased production, which results in significant thickening of  the meibum produced. Research over the last couple of years has pointed dysfunction of these glands in production of meibum as a leading cause or contributor to dry eye.

New Research Study

A group of worldwide dry eye experts spent over two years determining the meibomian glands and their role in the health and disease of the eye. Their findings were compiled in The International Workshop onMeibomian Gland Dysfunction: Report of the Subcommittee on Management andTreatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction were released in 2011. They resolved that Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD) is an extremely important condition and very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. The workshop has aided in advancing our understanding of the causes of dry eye and the best types of treatment. It is critical to see a qualified eye doctor to determine the cause and severity of your condition as well as the appropriate treatment if you suffer from irritated eyes.

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Is it Allergies or Dry Eye Syndrome? How to Tell and How to Treat

This time of year it can be hard to tell whether eye irritation and dryness is a result of fall ocular allergies or actual dry eye syndrome. While allergy symptoms can be relieved through many dry eye relief methods, treating the core issue is necessary for lasting relief so it is important to determine the root of your symptoms.

So how can you figure out which condition you’re suffering from in order to best approach treatment? Here are a few rules of thumb:

1. Perhaps the easiest way to determine the root of your symptoms is to consider when they occur. If your symptoms are seasonal, you can probably assume that allergies are to blame. If your symptoms are consistent or seem to fluctuate independently of weather patterns, however, you are likely confronting dry eye syndrome.

2. Look to your lids. If your lids are swollen and your symptoms occur in conjunction with nasal congestion, you are most likely suffering from allergies. Dry eye syndrome rarely manifests this way.

3. Is your vision blurry? If you are experiencing blurred vision, dry eye syndrome is very likely your culprit.

4. Do you eyes burn or itch? While allergies can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, burning is more common in patients with dry eye syndrome. Similarly, itching can occur whether you have allergies or dry eye syndrome, but is more common in allergy cases.

5. Still unsure? With dry eye syndrome, tear breakup time seems to be short, and you may experience bloodshot eyes. In addition, dry eye patients experience tear hyperosmolarity. Have your eye doctor check to see whether or not your osmolarity is normal to develop a clearer indication of what is causing your irritation.

Now what?
If it appears that allergies are your issue, talk to your doctor to consider medication options. If instead you are suffering from dry eye syndrome, realize there are many causes of dry eye syndrome. Blepharitis and MGD are key triggers. If this is your issue, consider an eyelid scrub to prevent clogging of the Meibomian glands along your eyelid. In addition, you may want to consider a lipsome spray. Ocusoft offers both eyelid cleansers, lidscrubs, and liposome sprays to promote proper eyelid hygiene.

Further, there are ways you can combat symptoms whether allergies or Blepharitis are at hand. Changes to your diet can be key as Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help stimulate tear production. MedOp’s Maxi Tears Dry Eye Formula works to relieve dry eyes with a blend of Omegas and vitamins. Tranquileyes goggles are an option as well. This product provides eye hydrating therapy to soothe and restore dry, tired eyes by creating a humid, warm environment which stimulates tear production and slow the evaporation of tears.

Getting in tune with the cause of your symptoms will help you gain control over them. For more dry eye treatments and general optical information, check us out on Facebook and Twitter, and see our Directory for product suggestions.

Dry Eye in the Fall

As we welcome the fall season, some of us might also unknowingly be dealing with increased dry eye symptoms. The warm, dry weather of this season results in dry, sore, itchy or watery eyes for many. Do not simply dismiss this discomfort as a result of fall allergies. Determining whether you’re dealing with dry eye or simply allergies is difficult for optometrists encounter during time of the year. In fact, it is possible for the two conditions to coexist making differentiation complicated.

Even though dry eyes and allergies may overlap in terms of symptoms, their distinction is vital in identifying the correct treatment strategy. For instance, treatment for dry eye includes treating the meibomian glands and underlying inflammation causes. Even if you're already diagnosed with dry eye disease, the changing season might aggravate your symptoms requiring a change in your current therapy or treatment. 

Risk Factors for Dry Eye

• Age

• Menopause, hormones

• Medications

•  Lasik surgery

If any of these risk factors apply to you and you are suffering from dry, sore, itchy or watery eyes, make sure to see your physician to find out the root cause.  

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