The dry eye (Sicca Syndrome) or kerato-conjunctivitis sicca (KCS)

For one thing the primary production of lacrimal fluid is decreasing when people become older. Especially women after the menopause often suffer from the hormone-induced dry eye. Nevertheless, this disease can also occur with men and women of every age. The reason for the dry eye could also be the intake of certain medications. Furthermore patients with diagnosed rheumatoid diseases often suffer from considerable disorders in producing tear film. weiter zur Prophylaxe...
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You should have a sufficient fluent intake. During the heating period in winter, the humidity in the living space should have 40 to 70%. It goes without saying that every patient suffering from dry eyes should, above all, avoid any irritation of the eye eg. by wind, smoke, overheated rooms etc.).
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Typical symptoms of this medical condition are an increased sensibility of the eye against different external stimuli eg. dry air and cigarette smoke, wind or strong incident light.

The patients often complain about a feeling „like having sand in the eye“. Sometimes also a temporary blurred vision can occur which can be eliminated by intensified winking. Especially in the morning hours the patients suffering from dry eyes often have difficulties in opening their eye lids. Any problems occurring in connection with the use of contact lenses can also trigger a dry eye. weiter zur Therapie...
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The therapeutic treatment is a dispensation of artificial tear drops. There are a number of medications that can substitute the tear film on the eye. Often some medications have to be tried out (drops, ointment, gels) in order to achieve a long-term success. The frequency of the application is different and depends on the dosage form of the medication. Sometimes an application twice a day is enough, in other cases the treatment on the eye must be made several times an hour to achieve a sufficient artificial tear film on the surface of the eye.

In exceptional cases the closure of the lacrimal punctum which normally regulates the evacuation of eye’s tear film will be successfully. In severe cases it can become necessary to wear glasses with side shields that prevent the eye from exsiccosis. zurück zur Definition
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