Dry eyes and vision

 

When vision worsens, people often think of refractive correction methods such as glasses, contact lenses, or vision correction surgery. However, if your vision still feels unclear or your eyesight does not seem properly corrected even after treatment, dry eye syndrome may be the cause.
Dry eye syndrome is commonly associated with discomfort such as a foreign body sensation, pain, or itching. As a result, many people fail to recognize that dry eye syndrome may be causing their reduced vision, allowing symptoms to worsen further. This also means that with proper dry eye management, it is possible to maintain clear and healthy vision for a long time.

▲ Corneal surface damaged due to dry eye syndrome

Tears play a much more important role than many people realize. They protect the surface of the cornea and also supply oxygen and nutrients to it. When tears are insufficient, the corneal surface can become damaged or exposed to infection, causing pain, discomfort, and eye diseases. It can also prevent light from entering evenly, leading to the sensation of reduced or blurry vision. A simple way to understand this is to imagine scratches continuously forming on the surface of your eyeglass lenses. If these symptoms are continuously ignored, damage to the corneal surface can worsen and eventually have a significant impact on vision. Since this cannot be corrected with glasses or vision correction surgery alone, additional treatment is necessary.

▲ Structure of the tear film and location of the meibomian glands

The biggest reason for insufficient tears is dysfunction of the meibomian glands. The meibomian glands, located in the eyelids, secrete oils that form the lipid layer of the tear film. When these glands become blocked with hardened oil, the lipid layer cannot form properly, causing tears to evaporate quickly and leading to dry eye syndrome.

▲ Left) Damaged meibomian glands   Right) Normal meibomian glands

Treatment for dry eye syndrome focuses on improving meibomian gland dysfunction and restoring the already damaged corneal surface.

 • Treatment options include IPL laser therapy and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) autologous serum eye drops.

• IPL laser therapy helps melt hardened oil deposits and improves blood circulation around the glands.

• It is a preferred treatment option because it causes minimal discomfort and requires only a short treatment time.

▲ Corneal epithelium restored after PRP eye drop administration

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) autologous serum eye drops are created by concentrating platelets found in plasma and are considered an innovative treatment that helps regenerate corneal epithelial cells damaged by dry eye syndrome.

They help reduce pain and discomfort, and as the corneal surface becomes smoother, light enters more evenly, improving overall visual quality.

PRP autologous serum eye drops have also received recognition for their safety and therapeutic effectiveness through approval by the U.S. FDA. Because dry eye syndrome is a common and familiar eye condition, many people tend to underestimate it. However, since it can significantly affect vision, consistent attention and proper management are important. Developing a habit of blinking frequently, using artificial tears regularly in dry environments, and visiting an eye clinic when symptoms become severe are recommended to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

We hope today’s post has been helpful for maintaining healthy vision.
Thank you.