Eyes are our window to the world and needs to be protected with utmost care. A very common eye problem affecting the general population is Dry eye syndrome. All of us have a thin film called tear film which coats the front of eye and generally protects the eye from wear and tear during the course of regular contact with air. Normally, a stable, homogenous layer, it not only provides the cornea and conjunctiva a healthy buffer from damage were it constantly exposed to the air, but is also responsible for a significant amount of the focusing power of the eye. Once impacted, it breaks down in different places on the cornea and conjunctiva, leading not only to symptoms of irritation, but also to unstable and intermittently changing vision.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
A prominent and most experienced symptom of Dry Eye Syndrome is tearing of the film which leads to severe irritation. Other symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:
• Burning, Stinging & Itching sensation.
• Sandy or gritty feeling, Scratchy or foreign-body sensation
• Discharge & Frequent blinking
• Mattering or caking of the eyelashes (usually worse upon waking)
• Redness, Blurry or fluctuating vision & Light-sensitivity
• Eye pain and/or headache
• Heavy eye lids & eye fatigue
Causes of dry eye syndrome
Causes may differ from person to person and may include one or many of the following:
• Allergies & Decreased hormones associated with aging
• Pregnancy
• Thyroid eye conditions & Eyelid inflammation
• Medication/supplements usage
• Sjogren’s syndrome (dry mucus membranes throughout body)
• Chemical splashes / injuries to the eyes
• Eye surgery
• Staring at computer or video screens, and Parkinson’s
• Environmental (dusty, windy, hot/dry)
• Contact lens use
• Neurologic conditions, including stroke, Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s, trigeminal nerve problem,
• Exposure keratitis, in which the eyelids do not close completely during sleep
• Post refractive surgery (LASIK or PRK), it may generally last three to six months,or longer
• Inflammatory eye conditions, including Herpes virus infections and uveitis / iritis
• Diabetes
Treatment of dry eye syndrome
Proper evaluation has to be done in the most scientific and correct way and it has to be ensured that treatment is taken on time, and also the treatment needs to be free of any side effects. In fact, most people with dry eye syndrome / tear film dysfunction have signs of it which are not even obvious on a general, screening eye exam. Itoozhi Ayurveda, which is one of the Leading Ayurvedic Hospitals in Kerala, offer eye camps for detection of such issues as well as comprehensive treatments to ensure that the root cause of Dry Eye syndrome is eliminated without any side effects. Ayurvedic treatments for dry eye syndrome are proven to be an effective and natural way to arrest and overcome this condition.
