Tear film dysfunction syndrome, the other name for dry eye syndrome

By Cristiano Antonino On Jun 5, 2023

Tear film dysfunction syndrome is the most recent and correct name for dry eye syndrome

Despite the name, which seems to indicate a momentary discomfort, it is a real pathology, which is classified in two forms:

Dyslacrimia, due to excessive tear evaporation;
Hypolacrimia, linked instead to reduced tear production.

Dry eye affects over 350 million people worldwide; in Italy alone, 25% of the general population suffers from it, with a higher incidence in women after the age of 45 (50%) and those in menopause (90%).

Dry eye and tear film

To understand what is meant by dry eye, one must first know what the tear film is.

This is a thin film that has a very complex composition and is rich in nutrients and protective substances, in a delicate balance between them.

This liquid allows the eye to move, to obey the commands of the brain by turning in different dimensions.

It happens that this film can ‘dry out’ and cause discomfort, for two main reasons:

The most frequent is excessive tear evaporation, caused by an obstruction or malfunction of the Meibomian glands, which are located in the eyelids. These glands have the function of producing the lipid layer of the tears: in case of malfunction, they do not produce enough mebus, the oily part of the tears. This results in up to 16 times faster tear evaporation.
Less frequent, but still present, is reduced tear production, i.e. when the lacrimal glands fail to produce sufficient aqueous solution to maintain moisture in the eyeball.

Symptoms suggestive of dry eye are

discomfort
burning;
redness of the eyes;
altered vision;
foreign body sensation in the eyes;
photophobia (sensitivity to light);
pain (in some cases).

These symptoms are certainly not life-threatening for sufferers, but they can create great difficulties and hindrances in everyday life.

Tear film dysfunction is caused by several factors, including

Chronic inflammation of the anterior surface of the eye;
Age (occurs in old age, especially after the age of 50);
allergic conjunctivitis;
chronic blepharitis;
previous herpetic infections (i.e. caused by herpes);
hormonal imbalances (menopause);
metabolic diseases;
the use and abuse of eye cosmetics;
contact lens wear.

In contact lens wearers, this pathology is even more frequent: 50 per cent of them suffer from dry eye.

Not everyone knows that the environment in which one lives is also decisive for the disease: pollution, incorrect air conditioning or excessively dry air in the home can cause dry eyes.

Bad habits, such as excessively prolonged exposure to PCs, tablets and smartphones, can be added to these triggers.

Practical tips in case of dry eye

Be careful not to underestimate this pathology; if neglected, it can cause greater damage to the eyesight or the cornea.

Therefore, the diagnosis of tear film dysfunction should always be made by an ophthalmologist after reliable diagnostic tests.

What we can do on our own is to change our bad habits, starting with our diet: drinking plenty of water and eating more fruit and vegetables increases the body’s overall hydration, increasing tear production.

We control the air humidity in rooms where we spend many hours and limit the time we use electronic devices.

If we experience dry eye discomfort and have booked a specialist examination, the ophthalmologist may prescribe the use of artificial tears and the discontinuation of contact lenses, if we use them.

For more serious cases of dry eye, there are several solutions, such as occlusion of the tear dots, thermal pulsation (Lipiflow) to improve Meibomian gland dysfunction.

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