What is dry-eye disease?
Dry eye disease, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is an eye disease caused by eye dryness, resulting from either decreased tear production or increased tear film evaporation. Dry eye disease is the most common eye disease affecting 5-6% of the population. One of the most important risk factors for dry eye disease is age, and prevalence has been reported as high as 34% in the elderly.
Symptoms of dry eye disease include stinging, burning or scratchy sensations in the eyes, increased eye irritation from smoke or wind, eye fatigue, sensitivity to light, eye redness, foreign body sensations, difficulty wearing contact lenses and periods of excessive tearing. Often patients report blurred vision, worsening at the end of the day or after focusing for a prolonged period.
The tear gland (or lacrimal gland) produces the aqueous component of tears, and lacrimal gland pathology is a hallmark of dry eye disease. Current research focuses on novel therapeutic strategies that improve lacrimal gland health and restore normal lacrimal gland pathology in order to improve dry eye symptoms.
Symptoms of dry eye disease include stinging, burning or scratchy sensations in the eyes, increased eye irritation from smoke or wind, eye fatigue, sensitivity to light, eye redness, foreign body sensations, difficulty wearing contact lenses and periods of excessive tearing. Often patients report blurred vision, worsening at the end of the day or after focusing for a prolonged period.
The tear gland (or lacrimal gland) produces the aqueous component of tears, and lacrimal gland pathology is a hallmark of dry eye disease. Current research focuses on novel therapeutic strategies that improve lacrimal gland health and restore normal lacrimal gland pathology in order to improve dry eye symptoms.