Why Your Eyes May Need More Attention Than You Think

When most people hear dry eye disease, they think of burning, gritty, irritated eyes. But ocular surface disease can be much more complicated—and sometimes it causes surprisingly few symptoms.

Dry eye disease is a chronic condition involving the tears and the surface of the eye. It can be influenced by inflammation, hormones, medications, eyelid health, environment, and overall health. For patients with certain systemic conditions, understanding this connection is especially important.

The Whole-Body Connection

Hormone imbalance can affect tear production, tear quality, and the oil glands that help keep tears from evaporating too quickly. Changes in estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, and other hormones may contribute to ocular surface disease, particularly during periods of hormonal change such as perimenopause and menopause.

Gut inflammation and microbiome imbalance may also influence eye health. We are learning more about the relationship between the gut, immune system, and inflammation throughout the body. Because the ocular surface is highly sensitive to inflammation, systemic inflammation may contribute to or worsen dry eye disease.

Autoimmune conditions can have an even more direct connection. Conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and autoimmune thyroid disease may increase the risk of dry eye and ocular inflammation.

You May Not Know You Have It

One of the most important things to understand about ocular surface disease is that symptoms don't always tell the whole story.
 

Some patients have significant surface damage with very little discomfort. This can happen when the nerves of the cornea become less sensitive, which may prevent the eyes from sending normal warning signals to the brain.

This is particularly important for patients with autoimmune conditions, diabetes, or other conditions that may increase the risk of ocular surface damage. Even if your eyes feel fine, an evaluation can help determine whether inflammation, tear dysfunction, or other changes are present.

Why Early Detection Matters

Left untreated, ocular surface disease can become increasingly difficult to control. Chronic inflammation can damage the ocular surface and contribute to fluctuating or reduced vision.

In more advanced cases, damage to the corneal nerves can contribute to neurotrophic keratitis, a condition in which the cornea loses normal sensation and its ability to heal properly. Without appropriate treatment, severe neurotrophic keratitis can lead to corneal breakdown, ulceration, scarring, and, in some cases, permanent vision loss.

The good news is that identifying ocular surface disease early gives us an opportunity to address problems before they become more difficult to manage.

Don't Wait for Your Eyes to Hurt

If you have an autoimmune condition, hormone imbalance, diabetes, chronic inflammation, or other risk factors, don't assume that symptom-free eyes are necessarily healthy eyes.

A comprehensive ocular surface evaluation can help determine your individual risk and identify changes that may not yet be noticeable.

Healthy eyes aren't just about how they feel today. They're about protecting the health of your eyes (and your vision) for years to come.

To seeing (and feeling) your best,

Dr. Ame Cline
The Eye Care Studio
www.TheEyeCareStudio.com
(740) 761-2020