Are The Kids Still Alright? Dry Eye Disease Sufferers Getting Younger
It’s common to think of dry eye disease as something that predominantly affects people as they get older. Although it’s common for dry eye disease to become more prevalent as age increases, it’s now getting more common for younger people to start showing symptoms of dry eye disease. The rise in dry eye in kids is important to understand in order to help manage symptoms early on.
What Is Dry Eye Disease??
Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease where the eyes don’t produce enough tears, or the right quality tears to properly moisturize the eye.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye in Children?
Dry eye can lead to a wide array of uncomfortable and painful symptoms. Depending on the severity of dry eye, symptoms can include:
Pediatric Dry Eye
Pediatric dry eye, also described as dry eye syndrome in children, can be just as painful and uncomfortable as when dry eye occurs in adults. Although considered rare by doctors, since most people who suffer from dry eye are older in age, dry eye still can occur in children. Overall, the causes of dry eye in children aren’t fully understood and developed. In fact, because of this neglect in understanding dry eye in children, it can go overlooked and consequently underdiagnosed. [1]
Why is the Prevalence of Dry Eye in Children Increasing?
Screentime
As previously mentioned, dry eye disease is relatively uncommon in kids. When it does occur, dry eye risk factors in children are like those of adults. It’s common to attribute symptoms to screentime as the reason why dry eye disease has begun creeping up on kids. High screentime levels are a big culprit when it comes to ocular health. Staring at screens for long periods of time affects blinking, since when we look at screens, we are prone to less blinking. Less blinking means that the tear film has less opportunity to cover the surface of the eye, leading to increased evaporation and dry eyes.
Inflammation
While it’s true that screen time can in the development of dry eye disease, there are other factors that can lead to dry eye, such as inflammation. Ocular infections such as blepharitis can cause inflammation of the eyelid margins. This can lead to dry eye disease and affect the quality of the tear film. This is why keeping the eyes clean and free from ocular debris with a regular eyelid hygiene routine is very important to ensure optimal ocular health. Additionally, inflammatory diseases such as rosacea can cause issues with the tear film.
Nutrition
Just like how keeping the outside of the eyes clean is important, it’s equally as important to consume foods that help promote optimal ocular health. Deficiencies in certain nutrients can affect the production of tears. For example, vitamin A deficiency?can also cause changes in the cells lining the ocular surface, referred to squamous metaplasia, and xerophthalmia where the eyes do not produce tears. Both of these conditions can cause dry eyes.[2]
Tips for Managing Dry Eye in Young Kids
Dry eye solutions for children are best recommended in conjunction with your?child’s pediatrician and eye care professional. Dry eye treatments for kids may include the following:
Scheduling regular eye exams for kids is important for early diagnosis and management options.? Always be sure to consult your child’s doctor or optometrist if you suspect your child may be suffering from dry eye disease.
Originally published August 3rd, 2024 at imedpharma.com.
[1] Nucci MD, Paolo, and Edoardo Villani MD. “Pediatric Dry Eye.”?American Academy of Ophthalmology, 15 July 2020, www.aao.org/education/disease-review/pediatric-dry-eye.
[2] Rachel Ann Tee-Melegrito. “What to Know about Dry Eyes in Kids.”?Medicalnewstoday.com, Medical News Today, 29 Apr. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dry-eyes-in-kids-causes-symptoms-and-treatment#symptoms. Accessed 13 Aug. 2024.