Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome has a medical term of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS for short. It is, as the name infers, a medical condition in which the patient suffers from dry eyes. However, there are also additional symptoms which may be associated with this eye condition, all of which can be treated by an Ophthalmologist. They include:
-
Eye Irritation
-
Redness of the Eye
-
Discharge from the Eye
-
Easily Fatigued Eyes
-
Blurred Vision
All of these symptoms can range from mild to severe and scarring of the cornea may occur if medical treatment is not undertaken.
Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome
If you live in Cape Town and regularly suffer from any of the following Dry Eye Syndrome Signs and Symptoms, please don’t hesitate to seek out Dr Zoran Aleksic, FCS (SA), one of South Africa’s Top Eye Surgeons:
-
Dryness and burning
-
A sandy-gritty eye irritation which gets worse throughout the day
-
Pressure behind the affected eye
Please Note! Dry eye syndrome can sometimes feel as if there is something, such as a speck of dirt, in the eye. This can result in damage to the eye itself, which not only increases the level of discomfort but also makes the eye more sensitive to light. In most cases, dry eye syndrome affects both eyes.
Ironically, Dry Eye Syndrome can cause the eyes to water. This occurs because the eyes are irritated. These are reflex tears and are the eyes response to injury and irritation. These tears do NOT have the necessary lubrication to prevent dry eyes. Most patients suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome only experience mild irritation and do not suffer from long-term effects if treatment is undertaken. If however the condition is not treated, it can lead to medical complications and in rare cases even lead to eye damage which results in impaired vision and in extreme cases the loss of vision.
The Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome
The most common approaches to treating Dry Eye Syndrome include the avoidance of exacerbating factors, tear stimulation and supplementation, the increase of tear retention, eyelid cleansing and the treatment of eye inflammation. In extreme cases, eye surgery might need to be performed. This eye surgery is usually in the form of a tarsorrhaphy, where the eyelids are partially sewn together. The reason why this surgery is performed is that it helps to reduce the palpebral fissure, more commonly known as eyelid separation, which in turn helps to reduce tear evaporation.
If you would like to find out more about the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome, please contact Dr Zoran Aleksic at one of his practise rooms in Sea Point, Cape Town.