It’s safer to seek medication as soon as you experience signs of eye irritation to have the condition diagnosed and treated in its early stages. Our optometrist at Stone Canyon Eye Care in St. George, UT, will analyze your state comprehensively and offer timely treatment.
Symptoms of Aqueous Deficiency
Here are some of the most common symptoms of aqueous deficiency:
- Eye itchiness
- Burning sensation when you blink
- Pain in the eyes
- Blurred vision
- Failure to produce tears when you cry
- Severe eye fatigue after reading or staring at a screen
- Difficulties wearing contact lenses for long
You may also experience some symptoms of Sjogren’s disease, a condition that affects the lacrimal and salivary glands, including:
- Pain in the joints
- Dry skin and mouth
- Rashes on the skin and feeling exhausted
Causes of Aqueous Deficiency
Aqueous deficiency occurs when your tear glands (lacrimal glands) don’t make enough fluid to lubricate the eyes. There are two major types of ADDE, based on the cause:
Sjogren’s-related ADDE - This refers to an autoimmune condition that affects your body’s capacity to produce fluid, such as saliva and tears.
Non-Sjogren’s related ADDE - This type of ADDE is often a result of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus among non-Sjogren’s disease patients. Other causes may include the following:
- Infections that affect the eye, eyelashes, and eyelids, like seborrheic dermatitis
- Living in overly dry indoor environments, such as running HVAC systems for long
- Going through a hormone replacement therapy
- Inadequate omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A in your diet
- Complications after suffering an eye injury, especially from damaging substances and chemicals
- Going for long without blinking while staring at screens
How Do Eye Doctors Diagnose Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye?
Here are common approaches the eye doctor may use to diagnose aqueous deficient dry eye:
- Eyelid examination: Our eye doctor may closely examine the eyelids since the condition often leads to eyelid redness and thickening due to eyelid debris.
- Schirmer’s test: In this diagnosis, the eye doctor numbs the eyes with eye drops and puts a small paper strip in the eyes to evaluate the amount of fluid that fills the paper. If the paper has less than 10 mm of fluid, you may have ADDE.
- Ocular surface staining: The doctor may stain the surface of your eyes with sodium drops to help look out for signs of damage in the eye’s protective layers.
- Tear analysis: The eye doctor might analyze a sample of your tear fluid to look for inflammation and high blood concentrations.
Reach Out to Our Optometrist if You Notice Any Signs of Aqueous Deficiency
Aqueous deficiency may lead to reduced visibility if not promptly addressed. If diagnosed with the disease, our eye Dr. at Stone Canyon Eye Care in St. George, UT, will take the necessary procedures, including managing any autoimmune condition you may have, to reduce the severity of the ADDE and lead you to recovery. Share your situation with us at (435) 359-2020, for comprehensive eye care, for a better quality of life.
