Can dry eyes cause vitreous detachment?

Can dry eyes cause vitreous detachment?

Dry eyes are a common condition, with around 17 million people in the UK thought to be suffering from the symptoms. However, there are many potential causes, some more serious than others, which make it hard to effectively diagnose and treat dry eyes to alleviate the symptoms and improve people’s quality of life.

When left untreated, dry eyes can cause issues with people’s eye health as well as affect their vision, so it’s imperative that anyone with prolonged dry eyes seek treatment from an eye specialist as soon as possible. Vitreous detachment is another common eye health problem – and one that can affect people who also have symptoms of dry eyes. But can dry eyes cause vitreous detachment?

What causes dry eyes?

People with dry eyes will usually have itchy, stinging or burning eyes, sometimes red in appearance and occasionally very watery. The condition can be irritating, causing people to blink rapidly and regularly but without relief, and in severe cases, it can be very painful and affect people’s vision. So, since there are varying symptoms, there are also a range of possible causes.

Essentially, dry eyes are the lack of tears, causing people’s eyes to feel dry and not be effectively cleaned by blinking and tear drainage. But for some people, dry eyes are caused by poor-quality tears.

Tears are a mixture of water, lipids, proteins, electrolytes and mucin produced in the lacrimal gland, the Meibomian gland and the conjunctival membrane to coat your eye in a cleansing antibacterial liquid and keep your eyes moistened. The tears clear your eyes of dust, dirt and debris when you blink, and the liquid is drained through the nasolacrimal duct, with larger particles collected in the mucus in the corner of your eye.

When you don’t have one or more of these substances in your tears, your eyes can feel dry and irritated while still being very watery, as your lacrimal glands overcompensate for the poor-quality tears by producing a lot of liquid.

Dry eyes can happen as a result of environmental factors such as being in air-conditioned or smoky rooms, or being exposed to cold, dry wind. But they can also be caused by other factors, conditions and medicines, including:

• Hormonal changes.
• Age.
• Vitamin A deficiency.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• A chalazion is blocking your tear duct.
• Thyroid disorders.
• Lupus.
• Irritation caused by laser eye surgery or frequent use of contact lenses.
• Antihistamines.
• Antidepressants.
• Nasal decongestants.
• Birth control.

Dry eyes are more common as you get older, as is vitreous detachment.

What is vitreous detachment?

Your eye is made up of several layers and components, with the cornea on the outside, protecting your iris and pupil, the retina at the back of the eye, the optic nerve stretching from the back of your eye to your brain to send signals, and the vitreous body filling the centre of your eye.

The vitreous body is made of a gel-like fluid full of tiny fibres attached to the retina and makes up the majority of the tissue in your eye, helping it to maintain its shape. As we age, the fibres in the vitreous slowly detach from the retina, causing the shape of our eyes to change and preventing light from reaching the retina, which allows us to see. If many vitreous fibres detach from the retina, you will experience severe vision impairment, and this may lead to macular holes or retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness.

People with vitreous detachment experience changes to their vision known as floaters, as lines appear to float across their field of vision. They may also experience light flashes in their peripheral vision.

If you suspect you have vitreous detachment, you should seek advice from an eye specialist, as although vitreous detachment is a natural part of ageing and cannot be treated, it may lead to another eye condition which can significantly impair your vision and require treatment.

Can dry eyes cause vitreous detachment?

Both dry eye syndrome and vitreous detachment occur with age, so it’s normal to consider that one may cause the other, especially as dry eyes can lead to several eye health problems. However, dry eyes cannot cause vitreous detachment.

As we get older, our high-quality tear production decreases, and the vitreous fluid forming our eye shape lessens, causing the fibres to detach from the retina; however, the two occurrences aren’t linked by anything other than ageing, and dry eyes cannot cause your vitreous body to shrink.

Dry eyes are, however, more common in women than men, as they can be caused by hormonal fluctuations, and women experience significant hormonal changes at various points in their lives, from menstruation to pregnancy and menopause. One study also suggests that PVD (posterior vitreous detachment) is more common in women over 80 than in men over 80. However, more studies need to be conducted to make any significant conclusions, and there is still no evidence that dry eyes and vitreous detachment are connected.

What can dry eyes lead to?

Dry eyes cannot lead to vitreous detachment, but they can lead to other eye complications. Without sufficient tear production, your eyes are more susceptible to infections, so prolonged dry eyes can lead to eye infections like conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

What’s more, constant irritation of the cornea due to repeated dry blinking can rub dirt and dust particles against the sensitive outer layer of tissue of the eye, causing inflammation and resulting in blurred vision or lack of ability to focus. It is highly unlikely that this will result in permanent vision loss; however, it’s important to seek treatment for dry eyes to prevent any eye health issues.

How do you treat dry eyes?

The most effective and common treatment for dry eye syndrome is the use of eye drops known as artificial tears. When dropped into the eye, they replicate the effect of tears, moistening the eye to allow for comfortable blinking and cleaning the eye of dirt and dust as the liquid is drained by the tear duct, and mucus collects the offensive particles.

However, if your dry eyes are caused by environmental or lifestyle factors, you can help relieve symptoms by making certain changes.

You should ensure you’re drinking at least 1.5 litres of water each day, ideally over 2 litres of water, to keep your body hydrated and reduce the risk of dry eyes. You should also wear glasses when out in cold and windy weather to protect your eyes, and avoid air-conditioned and smoky rooms where possible.

Strive to eat a balanced diet with plenty of omega-3 fatty oils to help produce the necessary lipids for tear production, as well as ensure you are eating a sufficient amount of vitamin A and beta-carotene to ensure healthy, moist eyes.

You can find vitamin A and beta-carotene in:

• Milk products like fresh milk, cheese and yoghurt.
• Oily fish like mackerel, salmon and sardines.
• Eggs.
• Liver and liver products such as liver pâté.
• Spinach.
• Orange vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and bell peppers.
• Yellow fruit, like apricots and mangoes.

If you work regularly from a computer or laptop, you should also ensure you’re looking away from your computer screen at least every 20 minutes to give your eyes a break from the bright screen.

Can you cure dry eyes?

There is no cure for dry eyes, and everyone is likely to experience dry eyes as they get older and begin to produce fewer tears. However, if your dry eyes are caused by an environmental factor or the side effects of a medicine, you can stop the symptoms of dry eyes by making simple lifestyle changes. You may, however, begin to experience the symptoms again in later life, or during your next period of hormonal changes, whether that’s changing birth control, getting pregnant or going through the menopause.

Need to see an eye specialist? Visit the Eye and Dental Clinic

If you have symptoms of dry eyes or vitreous detachment, you should see an eye specialist. At the Eye and Dental Clinic, we have a team of experts ready to help; book an appointment, read more on our latest news page, or simply contact us today!

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