Tears & Dry Eye

While Dry Eye may be caused by many factors, it is understood that dry eye is a condition that occurs when there is a lack of the quantity or quality of naturally occurring tears necessary for healthy and comfortable eyes. The naturally occurring tears a complex mixture of components including water, lipids (also known as fatty oils) and mucus known as mucins.

The tear film that covers the eye’s surface (also known as the corneal surface) consists of layers made up of three components: the aqueous layer, the lipid layer and the mucin layer. All three layers of the tear film must function properly to ensure tear film stability necessary for healthy and comfortable eyes.

When the tear film does not function properly, the reduced quantity or quality of tears results in tear film instability, and symptoms of dry eye may develop. Left untreated, advanced dry eye may damage the front surface of the eye or impair vision.

A common form of dry eye is aqueous dry eye disease. The medical term for this is keratoconjunctivitis sicca (also known as KCS). KCS occurs when there is an inadequate amount of tears produced to keep the eye comfortably lubricated. This is associated with dysfunction of the aqueous tear film layer. It is commonly treated in part by the use of artificial tears to replace or add to the naturally occurring tears.

Another common form of dry eye disease is evaporative dry eye disease. This occurs when the eye does not produce enough lipids to smooth the tear surface and slow evaporation of the tears. This is commonly associated with Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD) – the Meibomian gland is the part of the eye that produces the lipids. A healthy lipid layer is important – therefore an important feature of dry eye treatment for EDED or MGD is the ability to restore and protect the lipid layer. One approach to this is the use of artificial tears that have an ability to spread evenly over the eye surface and restore and support the lipid layer.

If you think you have Dry Eye disease, see your eye doctor for a diagnosis and to explore treatment options. While there is no cure for Dry Eye, the condition can often be improved with treatment.

NanoTears® is a unique innovation in Dry Eye Therapy that contains Nanopids®, tiny soothing lipids that revitalize the eye natural lubrication by restoring the lipid layer of the tear film, and providing a barrier to tear loss. The Nanopids® restore the lipid layer, and reduces tear evaporation. NanoTears®, a clear solution that gels in the eye, also lubricates and soothes the eye, providing tear replacement without the blur commonly associated with other products.

If you are a dry eye patient, ask your doctor if NanoTears® is right for you.