As the years roll on, dry eyes are a common fact of life for many people aged over 40. Blurred vision, gritty scratchy eye wear, burning sore eyes; these are all common symptoms that are used to describe the misery and irritation that accompanies age related dry eye syndromes. For large numbers of dry eye sufferers however the symptom that bewilders them the most are not the soreness or grittiness but how watery there eyes get with the most trivial of causes. A little bit of glare or the slightest of winds and they find tears racing down their cheeks. If their eyes are so dry why in the heck do they water so much?

The secret to understanding the dilemma of eyesight lies in understanding the nature of the tear film on the front of the eye and some of the more common causes of age related dry eye problems. Although tears look like water they are vastly more complex in nature. Anyone who has ever cried knows from the taste that they are slightly salty but what else do they contain?

Tears have three layers all with different important functions. Coating the front of the eye is a thin mucus layer. This mucus helps the second or watery layer stick close to, and spread evenly over, the eye’s surface. The middle layer is a thicker watery layer that gives tears their salty taste. It contains micro nutrients and special defensive enzymes that keep the eye moist and healthy. The outer or surface layer of the tear film is a very thin layer consisting mainly of lipids (oils). It’s main purpose is to keep the tear film intact as long as possible by slowing down evaporation.

Dry eye problems have many causes ranging from natural aging and hormone changes to the side effects of common medication and inflammatory conditions. One of the more frequent types, KeratoConjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) occurs when the middle watery layer is too thin or missing, usually due to poor production from the main tear producing gland, the Lacrimal gland. Another common type is due to evaporative tear loss. Any obstruction or malfunction of the Meibomium (oil) glands in the lids often means no oily top layer to the tear film and tears easily and quickly evaporating.

Any problems with the top two tear layers quickly cause intermittent blurred vision and the gritty sore eyes commonly associated with most types of dry eyes. When the main Lacrimal gland is not working there is little excessive tearing as tear production is cut significantly (e.g. Sjogrens Syndrome). However when the top lipid layer is missing there may be plenty of watery tears but they evaporate quickly and are too thin to lubricate the eye properly.

When eyes are poorly lubricated they become irritated very quickly and the brain sends out a signal for extra ‘emergency’ tears that overflow the system. These extra tears however are still too thin to lubricate the eye properly and ocular discomfort quickly escalates. This increasingly poor lubrication at the front of the eye from the missing lipid layer is the answer to the mystery of why some dry eye sufferers have the added misery of excessive tearing.

Most chronic dry eyesight problems cannot be cured, but they can be managed with the right combination of artificial tear supplements and ocular lubricants. Talk to your eye care practitioner about any prolonged eye discomfort and remember it’s perfectly possible to have ‘dry’ eyes that water like crazy!

The improved technology in the area of lasik over the past ten years has ensured the procedure is safer than ever but remember this, it’s still not 100 per cent safe. As far as surgery is concerned, the issue of lasik complication is very minor but as a candidate for lasik you should always be aware of any risks involved.

It’s fair to say that some risks are created unnecessarily by patients who perhaps may not be clear with their surgeons during pre-screening. This is a time when both parties need to be truthful with each other ans as much as the surgeon questions you about any conditions you may have you need to be thorough in your examination of your surgeon.

Experience counts for plenty and this is just about the most important decision you’ll make in the whole process - choosing your surgeon. Combine this with laying you cards on the table about any conditions you have which may be a problem and the risk of complication of lasik can be reduced at this time.

On the other hand, you should not readily accept the procedure until you are aware of the possibility of the complications and aware of what you will be able to do about them should they occur. There are side effects and possibly drawbacks to having the procedure in many cases, but they may not be applicable in terms of your particular case. That will be something you can discuss with your physician before the procedure begins.

Some Lasik Complications To Consider

The possibly Lasik complications can be complex and may not necessarily affect you if you are not of a certain body or blood type. It is not readily known if you will experience any complications with your procedure, but there may be a small chance that they will occur.

If you are unsure, as mentioned, speak with your doctor to establish a second opinion. Once you are sure of your decision, you will need to ensure that you go into the procedure confidently so that you follow all of the instructions. Many of the possible complications occur because the patient is not adequately prepared.

Some lasik risk includes dry eye, double vision, or difficulty seeing at night. It should be noted that with the advancements in technology that are constantly being applied to this procedure the rates of complications and risks significantly lower by the day. The physicians are also specifically trained in this field and are experts at Lasik eye surgery. The facts of Lasik eye surgery are often enough to instill confidence in the patient and prepare them for the procedure.