Dry Eye Syndrome: Causes, Symptom-Specific Treatments, and Warm Eye Compress Methods | Ocular IPL, Meibomian Gland Expression

Hello, this is Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic😊

As the chilly and dry winter arrives,

many people may be experiencing dryness in their skin or eyes.

Dry eye syndrome, in particular, has become a chronic condition for modern people,

with over 90% of the population in major Korean cities reporting that they have experienced it.

Indeed, it accounts for a significant number of cases

among the reasons people visit ophthalmologists.

However, did you know that if dry eye syndrome is left untreated,

it can lead to conditions like blepharitis or vision deterioration?

The ocular surface is composed of three layers:

the tear film, the lipid layer, and the mucin layer.

When the balance of these three layers is disrupted, leading to unstable tear secretion,

dry eye syndrome occurs.

Without tears, which act as a lubricant when blinking,

scratches can form on the corneal or conjunctival surface,

and various antimicrobial components in the tears cannot function effectively.

For dry eye treatment, it is crucial to accurately identify the type of dry eye syndrome

based on its underlying structure.

Types of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is generally divided into three types:

aqueous deficient, evaporative, and mixed.

1. Aqueous Deficient Type

The aqueous deficient type of dry eye syndrome

is, as the name suggests, a type where the production of water, or tears,

does not occur properly.

Most dry eye patients may simply think their eyes are dry due to a lack of tears,

but the aqueous deficient type is actually an uncommon case,

unless it's due to medication or an underlying disease.

2. Evaporative Type

The second type, evaporative dry eye,

accounts for the majority of dry eye cases,

making up a staggering 70-80% of dry eye causes.

Therefore, most people complaining of dry eye syndrome

can be attributed to excessive tear evaporation.

While the amount of tears itself may not be insufficient,

the secreted tears do not remain on the eye for a sufficient period,

causing a sensation of dryness.

This occurs when the eye's oil glands (meibomian glands) become inflamed due to aging or cosmetics,

causing the clear, transparent oil to solidify,

and disrupting the balance of the lipid layer, leading to dry eye syndrome.

3. Mixed Type

The mixed type, as the name implies, is a combination of both

aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye.

The most basic treatment for all types of dry eye syndrome

is frequent instillation of preservative-free artificial tears.

It is recommended to frequently instill artificial tears containing hyaluronic acid

to keep the cornea moist.

Additionally, if you are taking dermatological medications that suppress sebaceous glands, such as ‘isotretinoin’,

it can affect tear secretion,

so it is advisable to consult with a specialist to adjust the medication.

So, what are the specific dry eye treatments

for the evaporative type, which is the most common cause of dry eye?

Evaporative Dry Eye Treatment: Addressing the Cause of Dry Eye Syndrome

The treatment for evaporative dry eye syndrome fundamentally aims to

remove the sebum and inflammation in the meibomian glands.

Therefore, when washing your face morning and evening at home,

gently wipe your eyelids down to the root of your eyelashes, as if removing makeup,

and it is beneficial to combine this with warm compresses.

Warm compresses are best done at over 40 degrees Celsius for about 10 minutes,

but if using a steam towel, it cools down quickly,

requiring the inconvenience of preparing spares for replacement.

Also, since achieving the appropriate temperature can be more difficult than expected,

it is recommended to use a heated eye mask or an eye compress device.

However, using an eye mask or device

is not tailored to each individual's eye condition,

so rather than home care,

it is better to visit an ophthalmologist for professional care.

Ocular IPL and Meibomian Gland Expression (Sebum Squeezing)

IPL sterilizes the skin surface with instantaneous heat

and has the effect of coagulating capillaries to reduce telangiectasia,

making it one of the widely used care methods in dermatology.

In ophthalmology, it has the effect of melting meibomian gland blockages.

By melting the meibomian glands, it aids in the lubrication of the ocular surface

and creates a clean lipid layer, balancing both oil and moisture.

Approximately 50 meibomian glands are distributed on our upper and lower eyelids combined.

The upper eyelid secretes relatively smoothly with natural blinking,

but the lower eyelid has almost no muscle movement,

making it highly susceptible to blockages from dead skin cells or cosmetics.

The problem is that if left untreated, the oils that have not been discharged for a long time

harden, leading to a decline in meibomian gland function.

If the cells of the dysfunctional meibomian glands atrophy,

it becomes difficult to recover even with treatment,

potentially leading to an intractable disease.

In such cases, it is advisable to combine IPL treatment with squeezing treatment.

Our clinic's squeezing treatment is performed by an ophthalmologist with expertise,

using always clean, sterilized hands, forceps, and cotton swabs

to prevent meibomian gland infection and provide a refreshing extraction effect.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic's Eye Care Center

offers systematic management for dry eye syndrome.

Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic

is equipped with the latest equipment and a systematic examination system,

providing personalized 1:1 consultations and

sincerely treating and operating on each patient.

We also always prioritize the patient,

placing transparency and safety first.

If you have any other inquiries,

please feel free to contact the eye clinic at any time.

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