Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease
Many people suffer from irritating and painful dry eye disease. As of 2023, between 16.7 million and 50.2 million Americans have dry eyes. This is between 5-15% of the population. Dry eye disease (DED), also known as dry eye syndrome (DES), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and keratitis sicca, is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface due to a loss of homeostasis (defined as a state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly) of the tear film.
Certain people are more likely to develop this uncomfortable problem than others. While it can happen to both men and women, post-menopausal women are most affected. In fact, about twice as many women as men in the United States suffer from dry eye syndrome. Not only that, but women tend to report much more severe symptoms than men, too. Eating foods low in vitamin A (liver, carrots, and broccoli are a good source) or low in omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, fish and vegetable oils) as well as wearing contact lenses or having a history of refractive surgery can also play a factor.
Dry eye is a chronic, progressive condition that, thankfully, can be controlled, but it doesn’t go away. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage. Common symptoms may include blurred eyesight, sensitivity to light, itching, red and/or watery eyes or a stinging, burning sensation. As we age, our tear production decreases. Dry eyes can also be caused from systemic diseases such as lupus, diabetes, or Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid eye disease.
Therapies for Dry Eye Syndrome
Artificial tears or ointments, increased blinking, eliminating dust and dryness from the environment, and diet modification may help treat dry eyes, as well as:
- Lipiflow (heat therapy) – Used for patients who have chronic cystic conditions of the eyelids. A sterile, single-use eyepiece is inserted around the patient’s eyelids and uses controlled heat on the inner eyelid surface as well as intermittent pressure on the outer eyelid, facilitating the release of lipid from the cystic meibomian glands.
- TearCare – Uses localized thermal therapy and takes about 15 minutes. It requires manual expression of the meibomian glands and is recommended every 6 months.
- BlephEx (exfoliating therapy) – Blepharitis can develop at any age and is caused from tiny oil glands located near the base of the eyelashes becoming clogged. Several diseases and conditions can also cause blepharitis, including dry eyes. Blepharitis does not result in permanent vision damage and is not contagious. The procedure itself works by removing excess bacteria and toxins that live along the lash margin which cause inflammation and eye disease and is recommended every 4-6 months to control the bacteria . This is a powerful, painless and effective treatment for people suffering from this condition, and is well tolerated in patients of all ages and skin types.
- MiBo Thermoflo (meibomian probing) – Involves a therapeutic device that delivers consistent and comfortable heat to the meibomian glands in the eyelids with thermoelectric radiation. The heat helps to unblock the glands, allowing for an easy flow of oils from the eyelid into the tears. The oils in the tears help to preserve the tears by eliminating evaporation. One session usually lasts about 8 minutes per eye. Three treatments are common, with each treatment two weeks apart. MiBo Thermoflo has been shown to be an effective way to treat meibomian gland dysfunction as well as other ocular problems. It is less invasive and is low risk for corneal distortions, a common complication with other eyelid therapies.
- DryE – iLUX – Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is one of the most common causes of dry eye disease. In fact, this condition is so common that some studies suggest that it’s responsible for 85% of all dry eye cases. The iLUX MGD Thermal Pulsation System is a hand–held device which delivers treatment directly to the blocked meibomian glands with the goal of clearing the blockages. Therapeutic heat is applied to the eyelids at the optimal temperature. Then, while the oil is thoroughly melted, it is expressed with precise pressure.
- Intense Pulsed Light Therapy – Treats the underlying cause of MGD and DES, providing long lasting results for millions of dry eye patients. It is a painless, in-office treatment that treats the underlying cause of DES by stimulating the natural flow of oil into the tears, stabilizing the tear film and improving the symptoms.
- Interferometer – This recently developed, non-invasive procedure uses a laser beam to generate interference patterns within the layers of the surface of the cornea. An interference pattern occurs when two or more light waves interact with each other. By looking at the pattern, researchers can determine the thickness of the tear film and can help evaluate tear film quality and identify any irregularities, including aspects related to tear film spread and formation following blinks, as well as how it acts in between blinks. The interferometer is used in a non-invasive procedure and does not require the use of contact lenses or dyes.
DHRpro's Clinical Reports Identify DES Patients and Histories
In order to stay on top of your at-risk patient population, a process to identify and review these patients is needed. At DHRpro, our clinical reports can help bring patients with dry eye syndrome to light so you can stay on top of your DES patient population. Not only can DHRpro identify patients with conditions like DES and MGD, we return the patient’s most recent visit, plus visits when important treatments occurred, without having to leave the report. Unlike standard reporting systems, our interactive clinical reporting allows you to review your assessment and plan, view diagnostic imaging, and see important clinical information, all without leaving the report. When a condition, left untreated, can lead to permanent impairment, having a solution in place to stay on top of a treatment regimen is a crucial requirement for ensuring patient health.
