July is Dry Eye Awareness Month.
Blink twice for those who’re studying this. How do your eyes really feel?
Are they irritated? Do you’re feeling like you have got grains of sand in your eyes however you’re nowhere close to the seaside? Do you have got an autoimmune disease?
That final query could appear random, however having an autoimmune illness places you at larger danger for dry eye disease — a continual situation that causes signs like grainy eyes and lack of imaginative and prescient if not handled.
“If in case you have dry eye that persists and it is not simply episodic, get in to see an ophthalmologist. And that is necessary particularly when you’ve got a household historical past [of autoimmune disease] or you have got different systemic issues,” stated Mina Massaro, M.D., a professor of medical ophthalmology on the Scheie Eye Institute and upcoming director of dry eye providers at NYU Langone Well being.
It’s additionally necessary for girls and folks assigned feminine at delivery (AFAB) to notice the connection between autoimmune illness and dry eye illness, since each situations are extra frequent in girls than males.
Read: What You Need to Know About Dry Eye Disease >>
What’s dry eye illness?
Dry eye illness is a dysfunction that impacts the tear film, which helps defend and moisturize your eyes.
There are two foremost kinds of dry eye illness:
- Aqueous-deficient: Your eyes don’t produce sufficient tears to maintain your eyes moisturized
- Evaporative: Your eyes make sufficient tears, however the fluid doesn’t stick round lengthy sufficient and dries out shortly
Signs of dry eye illness can vary from redness and grittiness to blurred imaginative and prescient, eye ache and modifications in eyesight. With out remedy, dry eye illness can severely influence your imaginative and prescient and high quality of life.
The connection between autoimmune illness and dry eye illness
Autoimmune illnesses occur when the physique’s immune system mistakenly assaults wholesome organs, cells and tissues. And that may embody the tear glands, which causes a lower in tear manufacturing and results in irritation and injury on the floor of the attention.
Continual eye irritation additionally impacts the oil glands, and with out oil, your tears evaporate too quickly.
Collectively, diminished tears, lack of oil and the presence of irritation can all result in dry eye illness, a situation that will get worse over time with out remedy.
Frequent autoimmune illnesses associated to dry eye illness
“There are numerous autoimmune situations that assault or create irritation in glands and tissues which might be accountable for creating tears,” Massaro stated.
Frequent autoimmune illnesses related to dry eye illness can embody:
- Diabetes: Excessive blood sugar ranges, the hallmark of diabetes, can set off inflammatory responses that have an effect on tear manufacturing and pace up tear evaporation. Over time, excessive blood sugar also can injury nerves within the eye, which might result in decreased amount and high quality tears.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: The immune cells that concentrate on the joints in folks with rheumatoid arthritis also can goal eye glands and tissues.
- Lupus: About 1 in 5 folks with lupus, a systemic illness that causes irritation in several components of the physique, even have dry eye illness.
- Graves’ illness: The situation can hurt the muscle tissues and glands within the eye and alter the tear movie, which can additionally trigger floor injury.
Therapy for dry eye illness
“All of the autoimmune situations will by some means have an effect on the lacrimal gland [located in the eye], so the remedy for many instances shall be related,” Massaro stated. “We’ll put sufferers on anti-inflammatory drops; we’ll put them on lubricating drops — and this goes for just about all of the autoimmune situations.”
Along with eye drops, eye care suppliers might use prescription remedies that improve tear manufacturing or medical units involving mild or warmth to assist deal with signs and lubricate eyes. Silicone plugs may help maintain tears on the eyes for an extended time period. “Generally we will prescribe specialised contact lenses on the floor of the eyes to stop evaporation,” Massaro stated.
There are additionally life-style modifications that may assist ease signs of dry eye illness. These embody:
- Carrying wrap-around sun shades when outdoor
- Avoiding air-con vents indoors and within the automotive
- Avoiding locations the place folks smoke and/or quitting smoking
- Limiting display time
- Scheduling breaks for those who work in entrance of a pc
- Utilizing a humidifier in your house to maintain the air from getting too dry
Clear communication is vital
Autoimmune illnesses are complicated and infrequently require totally different remedies and medicines — and a few of these medicines could make signs of dry eye illness worse. That’s why it’s necessary to maintain your healthcare suppliers — together with your eye care supplier — within the loop relating to your remedy plans and any modifications in your imaginative and prescient.
“The collaboration is vital, and the communication is vital,” Massaro stated.
In the case of residing with dry eye illness and autoimmune illness, there’s no “I” in workforce.
This instructional useful resource was created with assist from Viatris, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
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