The feeling of “sand in the eyes” is one of the main complaints of patients by an ophthalmologist. Often people first try to cope with this problem themselves (use various drops, wash their eyes with infusions of herbs). But after unsuccessful attempts, they still turn to the doctor.
Despite the fact that medicine is constantly evolving, various modern methods of treatment and prevention of eye diseases are being developed , an increasing number of people come to the optometrist with the question: “It's like sand in my eyes: what should I do?” This feeling brings great inconvenience to people. In addition to discomfort, redness of the eyeball, and even unbearable pain, can be observed. In the article, we will consider in more detail such a symptom as sand in the eyes: what does this mean, the causes of the appearance and methods of treatment.
Dry eye syndrome
The sensation of sand in the eyes in medicine is called dry eye syndrome. This is a condition when the cornea is not sufficiently moistened due to the fact that the quality and quantity of tear fluid are impaired. A burning sensation, pain, a feeling of sand in the eyes, increased tearing - these are the manifestations of dry eye syndrome. Many tests are used to diagnose this disease: biomicroscopy, tear fluid crystallography, Schirmer and Norn tests. These and other diagnostic methods, as well as methods of treatment, are discussed below.
More on Dry Eye Syndrome
To fully answer the question: “Sand in the eyes: what does this mean?”, It is important to know the following information.
This disease is a very common condition for many patients who come to the ophthalmologist for help. A characteristic sign of this syndrome is insufficient moisture in the cornea of the eye. This disease affects approximately 13-18% of the population. Of these, almost 70% are women. With age, the likelihood of dry eye syndrome increases. People under the age of 50 experience a sensation of sand in their eyes in 12% of cases of visiting a doctor, and after 50 years this percentage increases to 67%.
In a normal healthy state, a continuous thin tear film is located on the anterior surface of the eyeball. Its structure has three layers. Thanks to the upper layer, the upper eyelid can freely glide over the surface of the eyeball. The second layer contains dissolved electrolytes and organic compounds that remove various foreign bodies from the eye. In addition, thanks to this layer, the cornea's immune defense is formed. The third (mucin) layer is in direct contact with the cornea, due to which it has a flat and smooth surface, binds to the tear film and ensures high quality of human vision.
The tear film is torn every 10 seconds. Therefore, the eyelid glides over the eyeball, renews the tear fluid and restores its integrity. When the tear film ruptures too often, the surface of the cornea is dry, there is a feeling of sand in the eyes and dry eye syndrome develops.
Sand in the eyes: reasons
Any disease has its own causes. Dry eye syndrome develops due to the small amount of tear fluid that must process the cornea and maintain its integrity. Therefore, when the patient runs to the doctor with the question: “It’s like sand in my eyes: what should I do?”, First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of this symptom in the client.
The main causes of sand in the eyes include:
- Autoimmune diseases (Sjogren's syndrome).
- Endocrine dysfunction (menopause).
- Various renal pathologies.
- Skin diseases.
- Infectious diseases.
- The exhaustion of the body.
- Pregnancy.
In addition to the reasons listed above, dry eyes, the treatment of which is so worrying for a huge number of patients, can be caused by eye pathologies or surgical intervention, which disrupted the activity of the tear film.
In addition to various diseases, against the background of which there is a sensation of sand in the eyes, dry eye syndrome may appear under the influence of external factors that violate the stability of the tear film. These factors include:
- Dry air from fans and air conditioners.
- Long work at the computer.
- Watching TV continuously.
- Incorrect selection or use of contact lenses.
- Ecological problems.
Sand in the eyes, the treatment of which we will discuss below, can also occur against the background of the use of certain medications and the use of eye drops that dry the cornea.
Dry eye syndrome can develop due to rare flashing movements, a genetic predisposition, an age of more than 40 years, and belonging to the fair sex. All these risk factors must be considered when determining the true cause of the syndrome in each patient individually.
Classification of dry eye syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is classified in three ways. Let us consider each of them in more detail.
According to the pathogenesis, dry eye syndrome occurs:
- Due to a decrease in the volume of tear fluid.
- Due to the rapid evaporation of the tear film.
- The combined effect of the two above factors.
By etiology, doctors distinguish a syndrome:
- Symptomatic.
- Syndromal
- Artificial.
According to the severity of the disease:
- Light form.
- Moderate severity.
- Severe form.
- Particularly heavy.
So, we briefly examined such a thing as sand in the eyes: what it means, the causes of occurrence and classification. Next, we dwell on the symptoms and treatment of dry eye syndrome.
Symptoms of the disease
Dry eye syndrome has a wide variety of symptoms. All of them, as a rule, depend on the severity of the disease and manifest each patient in different ways. The main symptom is the feeling that something has gotten into the eye (dust, sand). Then there is redness of the eye, pain and burning, increased lacrimation, sensitivity to bright light, eye fatigue. Vision becomes blurry, and when using eye drops, the patient feels severe sharp pain.
All symptoms are more noticeable in the late afternoon. A dry, dirty room, cold, wind and long work at the computer or with small details can trigger the manifestation of symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
If this disease is not started to be treated on time, it can lead to irreversible consequences and even to the need for surgical intervention.
Diagnosis of the disease
To begin with, in order to correctly diagnose dry eye syndrome, an ophthalmologist must interview the patient, collect complaints, evaluate all symptoms. These data may be the basis for establishing a preliminary diagnosis. Then the doctor should examine the patient, assess the condition of the skin of the eyelids, whether they close enough, how often the patient blinks. After a thorough examination, it is necessary to conduct eye biomicroscopy, which will help determine the condition of the eyeball, the cornea and the lacrimal film that covers it.
Then you need to conduct a number of laboratory tests:
- Fluorescein instillation test - a special staining solution is used, which allows you to see the places of tear film breaks and open areas of the cornea.
- Schirmer test - allows you to determine how quickly tear fluid forms.
- Norn test - shows how high quality the tear film is and how fast it evaporates.
After a complete eye examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.
Disease treatment
So, we examined a disease such as dry eye syndrome, its main symptom is sand in the eyes, which means causes of occurrence, diagnostic methods. Next, we dwell on the treatment of the disease.
The course of treatment of dry eye syndrome is aimed at eliminating the factors that led to the disease, ensuring high-quality and timely hydration of the cornea, preserving the integrity of the tear film and preventing the development of other, more complex, visual diseases.
Most often, with dry eye syndrome and a feeling of sand in the eyes, doctors advise the installation of eye drops. They help restore the surface of the eyeball, improve its condition and create a strong tear film.
If the patient has a mild course of the disease, then, as a rule, drops with a low viscosity are prescribed. With moderate and severe form of the syndrome, drugs having medium and high viscosity (gel) are recommended.
Also, ophthalmologists in the treatment of dry eye syndrome recommend dripping anti-inflammatory drugs. Sometimes the use of antihistamines is additionally prescribed.
Surgical treatment is necessary when it is necessary to increase the flow of tear fluid.
There are also innovative treatments for dry eye syndrome. Such methods include, for example, transplantation of salivary glands from the oral cavity into the eye cavity.
Prevention and prognosis of the disease
Even with a mild form of dry eye syndrome, quality and timely treatment is necessary. The constant ignoring of symptoms and refusal to visit a doctor can lead to complications, in particular, to partial or complete loss of vision.
To prevent the onset of the syndrome, it is necessary to regularly check up with a doctor, use the amount of fluid required per day, eat properly, and with constant eye strain, do preventive eye exercises.
Drops to eliminate the sensation of sand in the eyes
Sand in the eyes is one of the main and most unpleasant symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Consider several types of eye drops that will help get rid of this symptom:
- Moisturizing - help moisturize the eyes and get rid of the sensation of sand in the eyes. Such drops include "Santa", "Artificial Tear" and others.
- Antibacterial - help eliminate eyeball irritation. This, for example, "Albucid", "Levomycetin."
- Keratoprotectors - it is necessary to apply in the presence of injuries of the cornea due to a foreign body in the eye or contact lenses. This group includes "Deflisez", "Korneregel" and other drops.
In no case should you self-medicate. You shouldn’t even buy your own regular Albucid, the price of which will be described below. It is necessary to undergo a complete ophthalmological examination so that the doctor correctly prescribes the drops and drugs that are necessary in each individual case.
The price of eye drops to eliminate the feeling of sand in the eyes
We examined several types of eye drops, which are most often prescribed for dry eye syndrome. But many patients care about the cost of these drugs.
So, the most famous and often prescribed drops are “Albucid”. Their price is quite low. In pharmacies in Russia, it is about 60-80 rubles. In addition to these drops, Artificial Tear is often used. Their price is slightly higher than the previous ones. In Russian pharmacies, this drug can be found at a cost of 100 rubles. As you can see, all the drops are quite inexpensive, and almost everyone can afford them. Both "Albucid" and "Artificial Tear", the price of which is very low, very high-quality preparations and will provide worthy help to your eyes.
Conclusion
So, in the article we examined a disease such as dry eye syndrome, its main symptoms, causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment. To avoid complications, it is very important not to delay going to the doctor, but to immediately turn to him for help.