July is Dry Eye Awareness Month.
Blink twice in the event you’re studying this. How do your eyes really feel?
Are they irritated? Do you are feeling like you may have grains of sand in your eyes however you’re nowhere close to the seashore? Do you may have an autoimmune disease?
That final query could appear random, however having an autoimmune illness places you at larger danger for dry eye disease — a persistent situation that causes signs like grainy eyes and lack of imaginative and prescient if not handled.
“In case you have dry eye that persists and it isn’t simply episodic, get in to see an ophthalmologist. And that is vital particularly when you’ve got a household historical past [of autoimmune disease] or you may have different systemic issues,” stated Mina Massaro, M.D., a professor of scientific ophthalmology on the Scheie Eye Institute and upcoming director of dry eye providers at NYU Langone Well being.
It’s additionally vital for girls and folks assigned feminine at delivery (AFAB) to notice the connection between autoimmune illness and dry eye illness, since each circumstances are extra widespread 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 principal sorts 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 rapidly
Signs of dry eye illness can vary from redness and grittiness to blurred imaginative and prescient, eye ache and modifications in eyesight. With out therapy, dry eye illness can significantly affect your imaginative and prescient and high quality of life.
The connection between autoimmune illness and dry eye illness
Autoimmune ailments occur when the physique’s immune system mistakenly assaults wholesome organs, cells and tissues. And that may embrace 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 therapy.
Frequent autoimmune ailments associated to dry eye illness
“There are numerous autoimmune circumstances that assault or create irritation in glands and tissues which are chargeable for creating tears,” Massaro stated.
Frequent autoimmune ailments related to dry eye illness can embrace:
- 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 focus on the joints in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis also can goal eye glands and tissues.
- Lupus: About 1 in 5 individuals with lupus, a systemic illness that causes irritation in numerous elements of the physique, even have dry eye illness.
- Graves’ illness: The situation can hurt the muscle groups and glands within the eye and alter the tear movie, which can additionally trigger floor injury.
Remedy for dry eye illness
“All of the autoimmune circumstances will someway have an effect on the lacrimal gland [located in the eye], so the therapy for many circumstances shall be comparable,” 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 circumstances.”
Along with eye drops, eye care suppliers could use prescription therapies that enhance tear manufacturing or medical units involving gentle or warmth to assist deal with signs and lubricate eyes. Silicone plugs might help maintain tears on the eyes for an extended time frame. “Generally we are able to prescribe specialised contact lenses on the floor of the eyes to forestall evaporation,” Massaro stated.
There are additionally life-style modifications that may assist ease signs of dry eye illness. These embrace:
- Sporting wrap-around sun shades when outside
- Avoiding air-con vents indoors and within the automobile
- Avoiding locations the place individuals smoke and/or quitting smoking
- Limiting display screen time
- Scheduling breaks in the event you work in entrance of a pc
- Utilizing a humidifier in your house to maintain the air from getting too dry
Clear communication is essential
Autoimmune ailments are advanced and infrequently require completely different therapies and medicines — and a few of these medicines could make signs of dry eye illness worse. That’s why it’s vital to maintain your healthcare suppliers — together with your eye care supplier — within the loop concerning your therapy plans and any modifications in your imaginative and prescient.
“The collaboration is crucial, and the communication is crucial,” Massaro stated.
With regards to dwelling with dry eye illness and autoimmune illness, there’s no “I” in group.
This academic useful resource was created with assist from Viatris, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
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