What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes either do not produce enough tears or produce tears that evaporate too quickly. Healthy tears have three layers: an oily outer layer that prevents evaporation, a watery middle layer, and a mucus inner layer that helps tears adhere to the eye surface. When any of these layers are disrupted, the result is an unstable tear film that leaves the corneal surface exposed and irritated.
Symptoms of Dry Eye in Edmonton Patients
Dry eye presents differently in different people. The most common symptoms include:
- A persistent gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes
- Burning or stinging, especially in heated or air-conditioned environments
- Redness that does not resolve with rest
- Watery eyes (a reflex response to dryness that often surprises patients)
- Blurry vision that fluctuates, especially during reading or screen use
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably
- Eye fatigue by late afternoon
If several of these sound familiar, a comprehensive eye exam in Edmonton with a tear film assessment is the right starting point.
Why Edmonton’s Climate Makes Dry Eye Worse
- Winter indoor heating: Forced-air furnaces reduce indoor humidity significantly. Your tear film evaporates faster in dry heated air.
- Cold outdoor air: Cold air holds very little moisture. Stepping outside in winter exposes your eyes to near-zero humidity.
- Summer UV and wind: Edmonton’s summer sun and occasional Chinook-style winds accelerate tear evaporation outdoors.
- Screen time: People blink up to 60 percent less when focused on screens. Less blinking means less tear distribution across the eye surface.
Common Causes of Dry Eye
- Age: Tear production decreases naturally with age, particularly after 40.
- Hormonal changes: Women going through menopause or pregnancy often experience a significant shift in tear composition.
- Medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and decongestants all reduce tear production.
- Contact lens wear: Extended lens wear disrupts the tear film. See our post on dry eye and contact lenses in Edmonton for more on managing this combination.
- Autoimmune conditions: Conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus frequently cause significant dry eye.
- Blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelid margins disrupts the oil glands that keep tears from evaporating.
When Should You See an Optometrist for Dry Eye?
Many people manage mild dry eye with over-the-counter artificial tears without ever knowing the underlying cause. You should book a proper dry eye assessment if:
- Your symptoms are persistent despite using artificial tears daily
- You wear contact lenses and find them increasingly uncomfortable
- Your vision is blurring intermittently and it is affecting your work or driving
- Your eyes are red or inflamed consistently
- You have been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that affects tear production
Book a dry eye assessment at Eyes On Optometry in Edmonton to get an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan that addresses the actual cause.
How Is Dry Eye Diagnosed?
A thorough dry eye assessment goes well beyond asking how often your eyes feel dry. It includes a slit lamp examination of the eyelid margins and tear glands, tear break-up time testing, Schirmer’s test to measure tear production, and an evaluation of your meibomian glands, the oil-producing glands along the eyelid margin involved in most dry eye cases.
Treatment Options for Dry Eye in Edmonton
- Artificial tears and lubricating drops: The right formulation matters. Aqueous deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye respond to different types of drops.
- Warm compresses and lid hygiene: For meibomian gland dysfunction, regular warm compresses and lid scrubs improve oil flow into the tear film.
- Prescription eye drops: Anti-inflammatory drops like cyclosporine can reduce the chronic inflammation cycle that perpetuates dry eye.
- Omega-3 supplementation: Evidence supports oral omega-3 fatty acids in improving tear film quality over time.
- Punctal plugs: Tiny plugs inserted into the tear drainage channels keep tears on the eye surface longer.
Book a Dry Eye Assessment in Edmonton
If dry eye is affecting your comfort or vision, you do not have to keep cycling through eye drops that are not working. Contact us to book your dry eye assessment at Eyes On Optometry in Edmonton. You can also read our complete guide on what a comprehensive eye exam in Edmonton covers.