Operational Medicine 2001
Dry Eye Syndrome

Definition:  Burning or foreign body sensation usually associated with excessive tearing.  Usually bilateral and chronic. 

Signs/Symptoms:  

• Reduced  tears-feeling of dryness 

• Decreased tear break-up time (10 sec or longer is considered normal)

  • Tear break up time: from a blink to the appearance of tear film deficit after instillation of one drop proparacaine and fluorescein strip)

Differential Diagnosis: 

• Blepharitis

• Chronic Exposure (due to abnormal closure of eyelids)

Evaluation:

• Visual acuity

• History and physical examination

• Slit lamp examination if possible

Treatment:

• Artificial tears (or normal saline) every 2 –4 hours and more often as necessary

• Lubricating ointment at bedtime if more severe

Prognosis:  

• Mild -very good

• Severe-requires a more extensive evaluation by an ophthalmologist

Causes:  Causes may include:

Watch standing in the engineering spaces (extreme heat)

Exposure to extreme cold conditions while standing watch

Sun over-exposure (ultraviolet radiation).  

Though this can be annoying to the patient it should not interfere with their duties.

This section provided by CAPT Robert B. North, Jr., MC, USN

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.

The listing of any non-Federal product in this CD is not an endorsement of the product itself, but simply an acknowledgement of the source. 

Operational Medicine 2001
Health Care in Military Settings

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