Dry eye syndrome is a common condition affecting around 50% of LASIK patients that can decrease satisfaction with the procedure's outcomes. Artificial tears were administered on a tapering schedule over 90 days to treat dry eye symptoms. Variables like corneal staining, conjunctival staining, tear break-up time, and Schirmer test were measured. Treatment for dry eye may include artificial tears, ointment, humidification, punctal plugs, oral pilocarpine, or topical cyclosporine. Women are affected by dry eye more commonly than men, and it is a frequent complication of Sjögren's syndrome.
2. Results As many as 50% of LASIK surgery patients may suffer from post-LASIK dry eye Dry eye symptoms decrease patient satisfaction with the outcome of LASIK surgery
3. Dose Artificial tear dosing was: Day 1 every hour while awake, Days 2-14 every 2 hours while awake, Days 14-90, surgeon option to decrease dosing in steps down to 1-2 per day. Neither the surgeon nor the patient knew which tear they were using.
4. Test Dry eye variables: Schirmer test (w/ anesthesia), corneal staining (unpreserved fluorescein), conjunctival staining (lissamine green), and tear break-up time
7. Dry Eye Treatment Artificial tears up to 1 drop qid (consider cooling drops) Ointment at bedtime Humidifier Preservative free tears up to q1h Punctal occlusion (silicone plugs) or cautery Oral pilocarpine (Salogen) Restasis (topical cyclosporin: only available thru HPB)
9. What is dry eye syndrome? Dry eye syndrome is a condition caused by loss of water from the tear film. When the tear film loses water the concentration of salts and proteins, relative to the amount of water, increases--the tear film concentration increases. When tear film concentration increases scientists say that its "osmolarity" increases. This increase in tear film osmolarity causes the characteristic irritation and changes on the eye surface known as dry eye syndrome. People with dry eye typically experience sandy-gritty irritated eyes or burning eyes that get worse as the day goes on.
10. What causes dry eye syndrome? dry eye is caused by any condition that increases tear film evaporation, or by any condition that decreases tear production. These conditions, in turn, may be caused by a dietary deficiency of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are provided primarily by the consumption of salmon, herring, sardines and mackeral. For those who can't, won't or don't eat these on a regular basis, there is TheraTears Nutrition an omega-3 supplement developed for dry eyes and blepharitis.
11. Who is affected? Women are affected about 1.5 times more frequently than men. About 3 million people have dry eye as a result of Sj�gren's syndrome, and 90% of Sj�gren's patients are women
