Dry Sandy Eyes - AKA Tears in Winter

FRANKLIN, Wis. - Dec. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- Watery, red, sandy, sore, scratchy, burning eyes.  Common in cold, dry winter weather, worsened by dry indoor heating units, terrible in wind, more bothersome toward the end of the day or when reading. What is it? Dry Eye Syndrome, a common eye condition experienced by both men and women, especially with advancing age. Often abbreviated as DES by eye care providers, symptoms include pain, blurred vision, a scratchy or burning sensation, or even watery eyes as the eyes try to compensate for the dryness.
Because dry eye, allergies, and eye infections, can all cause watery eyes, differentiating between these conditions can be difficult and typically requires an eye exam.
Dry eye can occur at any age, but is more common among older adults, especially post-menopausal women. In some people, dry eye syndrome may be related to:

Conditions that affect the ability to produce tears, such as hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus.
Certain medications, such as diuretics (example: furosamide), antihistamines (example: hyphenhydramine), and beta blockers (example: atenolol).
Eyelid structural problems that prevent them from closing properly.

Some ways to deal with dry eye syndrome include using artificial tears at least twice daily, warm compresses twice daily to assist with tear secretion, and fish oil supplements that supply the body with essential fatty acids that are needed for healthy hear production. At home, a furnace humidifier or room humidifier can help. More severe symptoms may require treatment such as punctal plugs [stoppers inserted into the tear duct], topical steroids, topical cyclosporine (Restasis),  oral doxycycline to improve tear quality, moist chambers (like swimming goggles), bandage contact lenses to repair severely dried corneas, and autologous serum eyedrops.
For most people, dry eye is simply a nuisance and is treated effectively with artificial tears, warm compresses, and  fish oil supplements 1000mg daily.
However, severe dry eye can make you vulnerable to corneal infections, which can permanently affect your vision.  So if the artificial tears don't work, if vision becomes blurred, or other symptoms develop, schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist.
To learn more about DES (dry eye syndrome), as well as other ocular conditions, try www.geteyesmart.org, an educational resource published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

http://ungereyemd.com/index.php/symptomsconditions/dryeyes is another resource. You may also want to look at your local ophthalmologist's website or request printed materials at your next exam.

About the Author
Jennifer Unger, M.D. is a board certified ophthalmologist practicing medicine and surgery in southeastern Wisconsin for over 10 years. She is the founder of Unger Eye MD at 7001 South Howell Ave. in Oak Creek WI (414) 570-2020, staff physician at the Zablocki Veteran's Medical Center, and alumnus of Loma Linda University School of Medicine where she graduated with honors in the top 5% of her class.
Questions or comments for the author may be directed to comments@ungereyemd.com