The Zoe MD podcast
Host: Dr. Michele Johnson
Guest: Dr. Kristi Kozlov Spier
Episode Summary
Meet today's guest Dr. Kristi Kozlov Spier, a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist with Fellowship training in corneal and external ocular disease at the University of California, San Diego. With her Medical school background at the University of Illinois Chicago, Dr. Kristi is Passionate about helping patients restore and maintain their vision to live their best lives.
In this episode Dr. Kristi discusses dry eyes, highlighting the causes, risk factors, symptoms, and different modalities of treatment both at home and in hospital facilities.
Episode Timeline:
• [01:14] When should we get concerned about dry eyes?
• [02:50] What treatments do you recommend before getting to a professional?
• [04:47] When to seek professional help
• [05:20] Treatment for dry eyes.
• [11:47] Risk factors for dry eyes
• [13:05] The 20-20-20 Rule
• [13:23] Final comments from Dr. Kristi
Notes
Dry eyes can be either due to inefficiency of the oil layer on the tear film causing fast evaporation or inadequate production of tears like in long-standing Diabetes or Thyroid disorders. The 3 layers are the oil layer, the aqueous layer, and the mucin layer.
Before getting to a professional, it is advisable to use warm compresses twice a day for about 15-20 minutes. This helps loosen up the oil so it can cover the tear film more effectively. Over-the-counter preservative-free artificial tears can also be used up to 4 times a day using vials. Using Omega-3 fatty acids supplements may or may not be beneficial but should be used with a physician's guidance especially if being used alongside on other medication. Humidifiers in the house are also very helpful. If after this, you're still having symptoms like foreign body sensation, light sensitivity, or blurred vision, it is necessary to see your doctor.
The treatment modalities for the two forms of dry eyes also differ. For dry eyes caused by inadequate tears due to other medical conditions, prescription eye drops can help increase tear production but only take effect after some time. Another method is to put plugs in the tear drainage system, called Puncta, to keep the tears on the eyes for longer. In cases where the plugs keep falling out especially since the patient would not know, it may be necessary to cauterize the puncta. For more severe cases, blood can be used to create Serum Tears for the eyes, as blood also contains proteins that make it a suitable alternative. If the oil layer is the reason for the dryness, oral drugs can be used to improve the quality of the oils produced by glands. Heat or intense pulsed light is also a technique used to clear out the oil glands and improve the oil layer.
Prolonged computer use can also cause dry eyes as well as other activities that require prolonged staring like reading or driving for long hours which reduce the rate of blinking. Risk factors for dry eyes include being female, older ages, hormonal changes, and prolonged staring.
The 20-20-20 Rule: This is recommended for people who stare for long hours for reasons previously highlighted. Every 20 minutes, look up and away about 20feet, for 20 seconds, and remember to blink.
Other drugs that contribute to dry eyes include antihistamines, diuretics, and certain glaucoma drugs, and these should be reviewed with a doctor.
Key Quotes:
"Compounding pharmacies can make up a teardrop out of the liquid portion of a person's own blood"
Connect:
Find | Dr. Kristi Kozlov Spier
Website - http://reenvisioneyecare.com
Instagram - @reenvisioneyecare
Facebook - Reenvision Eye Care
