Around 10-20% of the population over 40 years of age have moderate-severe symptoms of dry eye disease and the prevalence increases as we get older.
It is becoming more common, particularly in younger people. One of the reasons for this is thought to be that we are increasingly looking at screens, particularly phones. When we focus on a screen, we tend to blink less frequently which results in tears not being spread evenly across the eye surface, and so the eye is not kept as moist as it should be. Looking at screens can reduce blinking by up to 60%.
Dry eye disease refers to a condition where the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears produced are of poor quality, leading to insufficient lubrication of the eye surface. This results in symptoms including: stinging or burning sensations, a feeling of having something in your eye, redness, sensitivity to light and blurred vision.
Treatment usually involves eye drops, lifestyle changes, or medications to increase tear production.
Blepharitis, a related condition, involves inflammation of the eyelid margins, where the eyelashes grow. It can be anterior (affecting the front of the eyelid where the lashes attach) or posterior (affecting the inner edge where the meibomian glands are located). Symptoms include red, swollen eyelids, itching or burning, crusty debris or scales around the lashes & excessive tearing or dryness. Treatment often includes gentle cleaning of the eyelids.
Both conditions can coexist, and managing one can help alleviate symptoms of the other. They require regular eye care to manage symptoms effectively and prevent complications.
A big problem for people with dry eye disease is that treatment often involves eye drops, which many people (including myself!) find difficult to use...
It is hard to aim the tiny drops at the small target of the eye, and almost impossible if your hands are trembling.
We have a blink reflex which often closes the eye just as the drop is about to land.
In general, putting drops of liquid in the eye can be uncomfortable.
It can be tricky to keep the head tilted backwards while using the dropper.
Fortunately, there is a great, new, simple solution. A study undertaken in New Zealand assessed a novel way to treat these conditions, using a rollerball that delivers castor oil. The rollerball is very easy to use and overcomes the challenges with standard drops.
In the study, patients with blepharitis applied the castor oil to the eyelids twice a day for 4 weeks. The researchers measured several aspects of eye health, such as the level of symptoms and the amount of crusting etc. The assessments showed large improvements, and that the rollerball was highly effective and importantly there were no side effects.
And so, there is now a new treatment option for people who have symptoms of dry eye disease and blepharitis, which most people will find is much easier to use than eye drops.