What is Dry Eye Disease and why is DREAM important?
Dry eye disease occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the tears produced are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. Tears are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Tears keep the surface of the eye moist and wash away debris. They also help protect the eye from bacterial and other types of infections. Dry eye can make it more difficult to perform some activities, such as using a computer or reading for an extended period of time, and it can decrease tolerance for dry environments. Inflammation of the surface of the eye may occur with dry eye. If left untreated, this condition can lead to chronic pain, scars on the cornea, and vision impairment. Nearly five million Americans 50 years of age and older are estimated to have dry eye disease and tens of millions more have less severe symptoms. Although highly prevalent, there are few options for patients beyond frequent administration of artificial tears. Omega 3 fatty acids have been s
