Evaporative Dry Eye

Evaporative dry eye is a type of dry eye that occurs when tears evaporate too quickly from the surface of the eye. The most common cause of evaporative dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

The classic symptom is when you wake up, your eyes feel dry. If you don’t have that healthy oil layer protecting the water layer of your tears, when you wake up in the morning your eyes can feel irritated, they can be red. It can feel almost like your eyelids are stuck to your eyeballs, and when you try to open them, it can range from uncomfortable to extremely painful.

Meibomian glands are small glands located in the eyelids that produce the oily layer of the tear film. This layer helps to prevent tears from evaporating too quickly and keeps the surface of the eye moist. When the meibomian glands don’t function properly, the oily layer of the tear film becomes deficient, leading to an increase in tear evaporation and dry eye symptoms.

MGD can be caused by a variety of factors, including age, hormonal changes, certain medications, environmental factors, and medical conditions such as rosacea or blepharitis. In some cases, it can also be caused by structural abnormalities of the eyelids or a blockage of the meibomian glands.

Other factors that can contribute to evaporative dry eye include long-term contact lens wear, extended use of digital devices, exposure to air conditioning or heating, and living in a dry or windy environment.

Effective treatment of evaporative dry eye usually involves addressing the underlying cause of the meibomian gland dysfunction, such as using warm compresses to unclog the glands, taking omega-3 supplements, or using prescription medications or devices to improve the quality and quantity of the oily layer of the tear film.

If over the counter solutions are not working, or if your symptoms are severe, then you should see a doctor who can refer you to a specialist. An Ophthalmologist can perform an intense cleaning of the eyelids, or assist to clear the oils if they’re clogged in the glands. There are also devices to help with inflammation of the eyelid, which is a key factor in dry eye and evaporative dry eye.