Dry eye: is it a chronic disease?

Before answering whether dry eye is a chronic disease, we need to know what dry eye is.

What is dry eye?

Dry eye means that the amount of tears covering the surface of the eye is too low.

Symptoms

Redness, burning, itching and reflex tearing. Dry eye has three grades: mild, moderate and severe.

Causes

• Long hours on the computer or phone (more than 6 or 7 hours a day).
• Irregular sleep and late nights.
• Autoimmune diseases that damage the surface cells of the conjunctiva, the cells that hold the tears on the surface of the eye.
• Inflammation of the openings of the oil glands in the eyelid.

Treatment

Dr. Mahmoud El Samkary adjusts treatment to the severity of dry eye:

1. Simple drops at first.
2. Adding another type of drops depending on the type and severity of dryness.
3. Sessions for the oil glands to stimulate their secretion.
4. In severe cases: plugs in the tear duct openings to keep the tears in the eye.

Prevention

• Spend less time in front of computers and screens.
• Limit long exposure to the sun.
• Sleep regularly and avoid late nights.

Is dry eye a chronic disease?

Yes, dry eye is chronic, but following prevention advice can reduce the need for drops to once a day. Continuing the habits that make it worse makes it hard to stop the drops, and some treatments may not work. Prevention is better than cure.