Dry Eye Disease – Nurse Practitioner
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Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory
disease of the ocular surface and lacrimal glands. The American
Academy of Ophthalmology describes DED as inadequate
moisture in the eyes due to changes in tear film consistency and
the type of tears produced (leading to evaporative loss), with or
without decreased tear production. The disease is also known
as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, ocular surface disease, and dry eye
syndrome. Nearly 12 million people in the US are coping with
dry eye symptoms on a daily basis. The prevalence of DED
among adults in the US is approximately 14%. The disease occurs
twice as often in women, and increases in prevalence with
age (3% at 35 years and nearly 19% at 75 years or older).
Many factors contribute to DED. It has been linked with
various autoimmune diseases (eg, Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis), diabetes, and thyroid disorders. DED
has also been associated with blepharitis and rosacea. In addition,
eyelids that are turned in (entropion) or out (ectropion) can
result in DED. Postmenopausal women are at high risk for DED
– most likely due to hormonal changes resulting in a reduced
ophthalmic antiinflammatory response and decreased lacrimal
secretions.
Dry eye disease takes its toll on patients economically and
on their quality of life. Symptoms range from stinging, irritation,
ocular fatigue, to variations in visual acuity. These can occur for
extended periods of time and significantly impact a person’s daily
activities. In a 2016 report on the humanistic and economic
impact of DED in the US, the annual direct cost for managing the
disease was estimated at $3.8 billion dollars....