Did you know that having dry eyes can be linked to skin problems?
Rosacea, blepharitis, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are skin conditions that can cause dry eyes
Dry eye is closely linked to skin diseases such as rosacea, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and blepharitis. These skin conditions, especially when affecting the face, can alter the meibomian glands’ function. These glands secrete the lipid layer of the tear film, hence leading to increased tear evaporation and dry eyes. Thus, dry eye may arise from an imbalance in secretion of these glands.
Dr María Gessa, an ophthalmologist at Miranza Virgen de Luján (Seville), explains that “human beings show signs of their own diseases throughout their bodies. For instance, diabetes decreases corneal sensitivity, autoimmune diseases can entail a higher risk of intraocular inflammation, thyroid disease can lead to eye issues and skin diseases can affect the eyes, as they are derived from common stem cells”.
According to Dr Alejandra Amesty, at Vissum Grupo Miranza (Alicante), “skin issues are usually diagnosed by dermatologists, but sometimes the first symptoms appear on the eyes, whereas the signs of dry eye alert us to skin conditions that are related to this disorder”.
Skin disorders linked to dry eyes
Dr Ane Pérez, at Miranza Begitek (San Sebastian) explains that “one of the most common disorders in patients with dry eye is rosacea, a chronic inflammatory disease that usually occurs with facial redness, papulopustular and vascular lesions on the cheeks and nose. Up to 20% of patients with ocular rosacea show no signs of facial rosacea. Ocular rosacea occurs with eyelid inflammation, red eye, dryness, recurring styes, photophobia and even corneal ulcers”.
Another common eyelid skin disease is blepharitis, the chronic inflammation of the meibomian glands that causes swelling and irritation of the eyelids and thus dry eyes. Blepharitis is also called meibomian gland dysfunction and is a fairly chronic disorder that affects patients suffering from dry eye.
As to atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition featuring dry skin, the immune system responds in an exaggerated or inappropriate manner, which can affect the tear glands and thus contribute to dry eyes. Moreover, the main symptom of this disorder is itching, with rubbing the eyelids being a major cause of blepharitis, which, in turn, can lead to dry eye.
Dry eyes are also quite common among patients with psoriasis. This chronic inflammatory skin disease, like atopic dermatitis, can affect the tear glands, which keep the eyes moisturised.
Innovative Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment
For Dr Gessa, “with the range of treatments available, i.e. not only eye drops, but also other options, such as exfoliation, specific nutrition, haematic derivatives, anti-inflammatory drugs, you can enjoy good quality of life despite suffering from dry eye”.
However, one of the most promising developments in the treatment of dry eye related to skin issues is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). This treatment, which targets the periocular skin area, offers a comprehensive approach by treating both conditions at the same time. According to Dr Perez, “this therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect and stimulates gland drainage, thus improving tear film quality and eye lubrication, thereby reducing the symptoms and signs of dry eye”.
Developments in treatments such as IPL allow patients to benefit from a comprehensive solution that not only improves eye health, but also that of the periocular skin.
In addition to these in-office treatments, people with dry eye must follow a series of daily recommendations, such as taking regular breaks when using screens, blinking regularly, wearing UV protection glasses, eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and avoiding intense air conditioning or heating.
“People who suffer from dry eyes need to be aware that it is not just about applying eye drops, as this measure only treats the symptoms of dry eye, but not the actual cause”, explains Dr Amesty.
Impact of dry eye on quality of life
Our specialists note that dry eye syndrome has a significant impact on patients’ quality of life, making daily tasks, such as reading, screen time and driving, difficult, due to the lack of eye lubrication, which causes discomfort, as well as visual issues and, in some cases, lesions on the eye surface that could damage the cornea and the conjunctiva or membrane covering both the inner eyelid surface and the eyeball.
Furthermore, the patient’s emotional state of mind may be affected, due to mood changes (sadness, anxiety, stress), chronic pain and sleeping difficulties, which may even trigger the onset of depressive processes. An eye check-up is crucial for people with this disorder in order to get an accurate diagnosis of the type of dry eye they suffer from and its causes, as well as the most appropriate treatment to ease their symptoms.
