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Question: Last week I asked questions regarding dry eye symptoms but there are still some things I'd like to clarify.
A)
I developed dry eye symptoms about 3 days after I arrived in a cold country. I stayed there for two weeks and had a terrible time because of painful eyes. My eyes still feel stiff in the morning and I can actually HEAR my eyes blink when I cover my ears.
1. Is it possible to have a sudden onset of dry eye????? My eyes were fine prior to travelling and the symptoms just kicked in all of a sudden. I've lived in cold countries before but have never had dry eyes.....
B)
Before travelling to the cold country, I had washed my eyes with tap water on a daily basis for many months. I stopped doing it after learning from an ophthalmologist that it's bad for my eyes.
2. Do you think washing my eyes with tap water for several months could have damaged the lipid tear film? Do you think that is why I developed dry eye all of a sudden when I went to a cold country? I SAW A FEW OPHTHALMOLOGISTS ALREADY AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WHEN THEY EXAMINED MY EYES USING A MICROSCOPE.....
C)
Now I'm back home and I think the humid weather here is helping a lot. I've used two different artificial tears but they didn't make a big difference. The pain comes and goes throughout the day but I wouldn't say it's that serious.
1)If the cause of my dry eyes are due to weakened lipid tear film or something similar, how long do I have to wait before they become restored or return to normal conditions?
2) Is it true that a sudden onset of dry eye can go away after a few months?
3) I heard that persistent dry eye symptoms can later lead to increased eye pressure. Whenever I feel pain in my eyes the first thing that comes to my mind is the possibility of increasing or increased eye pressure.... It worries me a lot because I know how important it is to maintain a normal eye pressure level.
4) I don't know if it's helping me but I try to blink as often as I can. Do you think closing eyes for a few minutes or blinking often will help me heal faster?
5) Overall, my eyes aren't as painful as they were when I was in the cold country but I'm worried because I feel my vision has become dimmer. I know sensitivity to light and blurry vision are some symptoms dry eye patients experience but I wonder if they will get better over time. If artificial tears don't make much difference and the pain is bearable, do you think I should just wait and observe for a few more weeks?
Thank you very much.
A)
I developed dry eye symptoms about 3 days after I arrived in a cold country. I stayed there for two weeks and had a terrible time because of painful eyes. My eyes still feel stiff in the morning and I can actually HEAR my eyes blink when I cover my ears.
1. Is it possible to have a sudden onset of dry eye????? My eyes were fine prior to travelling and the symptoms just kicked in all of a sudden. I've lived in cold countries before but have never had dry eyes.....
B)
Before travelling to the cold country, I had washed my eyes with tap water on a daily basis for many months. I stopped doing it after learning from an ophthalmologist that it's bad for my eyes.
2. Do you think washing my eyes with tap water for several months could have damaged the lipid tear film? Do you think that is why I developed dry eye all of a sudden when I went to a cold country? I SAW A FEW OPHTHALMOLOGISTS ALREADY AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WHEN THEY EXAMINED MY EYES USING A MICROSCOPE.....
C)
Now I'm back home and I think the humid weather here is helping a lot. I've used two different artificial tears but they didn't make a big difference. The pain comes and goes throughout the day but I wouldn't say it's that serious.
1)If the cause of my dry eyes are due to weakened lipid tear film or something similar, how long do I have to wait before they become restored or return to normal conditions?
2) Is it true that a sudden onset of dry eye can go away after a few months?
3) I heard that persistent dry eye symptoms can later lead to increased eye pressure. Whenever I feel pain in my eyes the first thing that comes to my mind is the possibility of increasing or increased eye pressure.... It worries me a lot because I know how important it is to maintain a normal eye pressure level.
4) I don't know if it's helping me but I try to blink as often as I can. Do you think closing eyes for a few minutes or blinking often will help me heal faster?
5) Overall, my eyes aren't as painful as they were when I was in the cold country but I'm worried because I feel my vision has become dimmer. I know sensitivity to light and blurry vision are some symptoms dry eye patients experience but I wonder if they will get better over time. If artificial tears don't make much difference and the pain is bearable, do you think I should just wait and observe for a few more weeks?
Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
Dry eyes usually require treatment for 2-3 months.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic
I am Dr. Dadapeer K, an ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question.
I reviewed your history and the previous question you had asked to Health care Magic.
My responses to your questions are as below.
A.
1. Yes dry eye can develop suddenly. Weather is one of the important as torso which can trigger onset of dry eyes. Both extremes dry and hot weather can affect the tear film and secretion of tears and can cause dry eyes. Cold weather is known to cause constriction of good vessels and can cause dry eyes. But classically dry warm weather is more common predisposing cause for dry eyes.
B.
Washing the eyes with tap water will not cause dry eyes. This is not advised because of risk of infection.
C.
1. Dry eyes usually take 2-3 months to show complete relief. Lipid layer deficiency is usually because of damage to Meibomian glands and it will improve within this time.
2. Dry eyes of sudden onset are not associated with structural damage to the surface of the eye and hence this will respond faster.
3. Dry eye is not associated with increased intraocular pressure.
4. Frequent blinking will help improving the dry eye condition.
5. Since the condition is showing improvement no need to be worried continue treatment you will be fine.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.
Thank you
With regards
Dry eyes usually require treatment for 2-3 months.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic
I am Dr. Dadapeer K, an ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question.
I reviewed your history and the previous question you had asked to Health care Magic.
My responses to your questions are as below.
A.
1. Yes dry eye can develop suddenly. Weather is one of the important as torso which can trigger onset of dry eyes. Both extremes dry and hot weather can affect the tear film and secretion of tears and can cause dry eyes. Cold weather is known to cause constriction of good vessels and can cause dry eyes. But classically dry warm weather is more common predisposing cause for dry eyes.
B.
Washing the eyes with tap water will not cause dry eyes. This is not advised because of risk of infection.
C.
1. Dry eyes usually take 2-3 months to show complete relief. Lipid layer deficiency is usually because of damage to Meibomian glands and it will improve within this time.
2. Dry eyes of sudden onset are not associated with structural damage to the surface of the eye and hence this will respond faster.
3. Dry eye is not associated with increased intraocular pressure.
4. Frequent blinking will help improving the dry eye condition.
5. Since the condition is showing improvement no need to be worried continue treatment you will be fine.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Dear Dr. Dadapeer K,
I forgot to ask one follow-up question I had.
1) I understand that dry eye is not associated with increased intraocular pressure but should I be worried about my current dry eye symptoms leading to increased intraocular pressure? Do dry eye symptoms lead to high intraocular pressure only if they are severe?
Thanks.
I forgot to ask one follow-up question I had.
1) I understand that dry eye is not associated with increased intraocular pressure but should I be worried about my current dry eye symptoms leading to increased intraocular pressure? Do dry eye symptoms lead to high intraocular pressure only if they are severe?
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Dry eye and intraocular pressureare not related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.
Dry eye will not have any effect on the intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure increases in a condition called as glaucoma. Glaucoma is a different disease and both are not directly related to each other.
Yes I advice you not to worry regarding this.
But if you are having raised intraocular pressure it needs to be evaluated and treated accordingly.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.
Thank you
With regards
Dry eye and intraocular pressureare not related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.
Dry eye will not have any effect on the intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure increases in a condition called as glaucoma. Glaucoma is a different disease and both are not directly related to each other.
Yes I advice you not to worry regarding this.
But if you are having raised intraocular pressure it needs to be evaluated and treated accordingly.
Hope this is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Dr. Dadapeer K,
Thank you for your quick reply. My intraocular pressure is normal. I was just concerned about it because of dry eyes.
My last follow up question would be:
1. Do I HAVE TO use artificial tears to treat dry eye? I realised artificial tears are not noticeably effective. When my eyes feel painful I just close my eyes, blink a lot, or make my room as humid as possible. In other words, will my dry eye symptoms get worse if I don't use drops?
Thank you for your quick reply. My intraocular pressure is normal. I was just concerned about it because of dry eyes.
My last follow up question would be:
1. Do I HAVE TO use artificial tears to treat dry eye? I realised artificial tears are not noticeably effective. When my eyes feel painful I just close my eyes, blink a lot, or make my room as humid as possible. In other words, will my dry eye symptoms get worse if I don't use drops?
Brief Answer:
Artificial tears will definitely help in dry eyes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.
Artificial tears will help in quicker resolution of symptoms of dry eye. Hence I advice you to use artificial tears eye drops. Dry eyes will take a longer time to heal without the use of artificial tears.
Hope the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
Artificial tears will definitely help in dry eyes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.
Artificial tears will help in quicker resolution of symptoms of dry eye. Hence I advice you to use artificial tears eye drops. Dry eyes will take a longer time to heal without the use of artificial tears.
Hope the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
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