Many people have dry eye disease (DED) and receive pharmacological treatment for it. While this treatment can be effective, people with severe DED and lower drug tolerance levels may need more support. Here, optometrist Deepan Kar, O.D. explores therapeutic eyewear that can be added to medicinal treatments to help improve DED symptoms in severe cases.*

What is DED?

According to the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) II study, DED is a condition in which the tear film—the thin layer of tissue that acts as the interface between your eye and the environment—isn’t adequately lubricated with tears, causing discomfort, vision problems, and harm to the cornea.

DED can be caused, and made worse, by multiple factors, such as:

• Persistent tear film inflammation and irritation,
• Tear film instability and loss of fluid from either insufficient tear production or excessive tear evaporation, and
• Adverse environmental conditions.

Some 5%-50% of people around the world live with DED. It affects mostly women, and is more common as people age.

Moisture chamber glasses

Often underutilized, moisture chamber glasses can help ease DED symptoms such as foreign body sensation by reducing environmental impacts on the eye’s surface and keeping tears from evaporating.

This type of eyewear can have an eyecup that surrounds the eyes, filling the space between the frame of the glasses and the face. The eyecup creates a seal around the eye that blocks irritants such as wind and light. These glasses often come as sports wrap-around sunglasses that:

• Are made with a soft silicone eyecup that’s comfortable and latex-free
• Can be worn discreetly every day, since they look like typical glasses
• Come in a variety of lenses and styles, with full UV-ray protection

A health savings account or flexible spending account can often be used to purchase them.

Blue light blockers

Research interest in blue light’s effect on eye health has been increasing. Animal models and cell cultures have shown that blue light exposure increases oxidative stress in corneal epithelial cells, lowering their survival rates. 

For people with dry eyes and a high amount of screen time, tinted and blue light-filtering glasses have become popular. Kar says the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this approach for DED and improving the eye surface, however. Clinical trials are still needed to verify blue light’s effect on corneal epithelial cells in humans, and learn how increasing screen time factors in. 

Scleral contact lenses

Scleral contact lenses are rigid lenses that trap a reservoir of fluid behind them to keep the cornea hydrated, regenerate the corneal surface, stabilize the epithelium, and protect the eye’s surface during blinking. Kar says these features make scleral lenses “an ideal option” for treating eye surface disorders like DED.

Recent improvements in scleral contact lenses include:

• Custom-fitting,
• Simplified fitting over problem areas,
• Reduced suction for greater comfort
• Fewer negative effects, and
• Better visual acuity.

A note to eyecare professionals

Kar says that dry eyes can significantly interfere with people’s daily lives, but these eyewear and lens treatment options can offer symptom relief in minutes, and are easy to add to a patient’s DED management plan. She urges clinicians to stay up-to-date on current DED treatment options and research for improved patient vision and quality of life.

*Kar, D. (2022, October 31). The Latest in Therapeutic Eyewear and Lenses for Dry Eye Disease. Eyes on Eyecare. https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/latest-in-therapeutic-eyewear-and-lenses-for-dry-eye-disease