We often hear dry eye syndrome, better defined as Dry Eye, but what exactly is it? Who suffers from it and why?
According to the 2020 Vision Needs Monitor Report, dry eye syndrome affects 1 in 4 individuals, involving one or more functional components of the ocular surface.
The causes can be multiple:
shortage of tear fluid
poor functioning of the lacrimal glands and too rapid evaporation of the tear fluid which dries the cornea and irritates it
There are equally many internal factors that lead to its onset:
age (is the major risk factor, F>M)
presence of ocular pathologies such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction
dermatological diseases
Sjögren's syndrome and other autoimmune diseases
rheumatoid arthritis
diabetes
Added to these are the following external factors:
pollution
prolonged exposure to video terminals
poorly ventilated environments
makeup (especially eye makeup)
prolonged use of contact lenses
eye surgeries
Therapy: the objective is to restore the balance of the ocular surface system which can be achieved through the use of tear substitutes with a lubricating, protective and mucoadhesive action. Osteopathic treatment can help restore drainage pathways.