Dry eye disease is also referred to as dry eye syndrome, dry eye, or dry eyes. It isn’t just the simple irritation it was once thought to be. We now know that dry eye disease is a complex condition requiring specialized focus.
This has led to tremendous advancements in how dry eye disease is identified, diagnosed, and managed. Dry Eye Institutes of America™ was founded to make these latest advancements more accessible to patients. We are proud to be one of the first in the U.S. to offer this level of specialty.
About Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease occurs when your tear film breaks down. Tear film coats the surface of your eyes to keep them moist and comfortable. Yet it plays a much bigger role. It creates a smooth surface for light to pass through the eye. Not only that, it nourishes the front of your eyes and protects them from injury and infection.
Your tear film is made up of three layers, each critical to how your eye functions:
- The top layer, or lipid layer, is made of oil to seal the tear film and prevent evaporation.
- The middle layer, also called the aqueous layer, is made of water to clean the ocular surface and prevent it from drying. This layer also provides nutrients, elements and proteins for corneal wound repair, and for resistance against infection.
- The bottom layer, or mucin layer, is made of mucous to help tear film adhere to the eye, and for tear film stability.
Types of Dry Eye Disease
The are two primary types of dry eye disease. Most often, patients suffer from one or the other. But it’s not uncommon for both to be present. At Dry Eye Institutes of America™, we use today’s most sophisticated technology to test and diagnose for either or both of the following:
Evaporative Dry Eye is an inflammation of the meibomian glands located in the eyelids. Meibomian glands make the lipid, or oily part of your tears that slow evaporation to keep them stable. Evaporative Dry Eye is now considered the most common type of dry eye disease.
Aqueous Tear-Deficient Dry Eye happens when the lacrimal glands don’t produce enough of the watery (aqueous) layer of tears needed. This is necessary to maintain a healthy eye surface.
If you suspect you have dry eyes, contact Dry Eye Institutes of America™ at 817-488-3490. Our main office is conveniently located in Grapevine with affiliated Dallas/Fort Worth specialists near you.