How To Treat Dry Eyes In Children

Dry eyes in children can be a chronic condition, which can turn serious if left untreated. Recurrent dry eye in children may signal an underlying condition, so be sure to keep a close eye on your child’s symptoms in order to obtain a proper diagnosis.

Although dry eyes in children is considered rare, it can still occur — and the condition can become painful and irritating for your child. Research indicates an increase in the number of children suffering from dry eye disease, which could be due to the growing use of smartphones and tablets among children.

This article is going to look at the symptoms and causes of dry eyes in children — as well as diagnosis, treatment, and when the time is right to see an ophthalmologist.

What are dry eyes?

Dry eye syndrome is often a recurrent condition, affecting both adults and children.

Dry eyes in children can occur for many reasons, though it’s not always certain why they’ve developed dry eyes in the first place. A thorough investigation is needed for diagnosis, as other underlying conditions will have to be ruled out as possible causes.

Sometimes, vision problems can occur due to untreated or recurrent dry eyes, which is why it’s important that you seek medical advice if you suspect your child is suffering from dry eye disease.

Symptoms of dry eyes in children

Symptoms of dry eyes in children can vary slightly from those in adults, as children may react differently to their symptoms — meaning you may spot them before they do.

The most common symptoms of dry eyes in children are:

• Rubbing or complaining that their eyes hurt or sting
• Watery eyes
• Eyes may look red
• Complaining that their vision is blurry
• Eyes feeling hot or dry
• Light sensitivity

Your child might not mention all of these to you, so you must be able to recognise the symptoms for them. For example, if they keep rubbing their eyes, then ask them if their eyes are feeling okay.

Causes of dry eyes in children

The causes of dry eyes in children can vary, but the main cause of dry eyes in children is thought to be meibomian gland dysfunction, which can also be called evaporative eye disease.

When the meibomian gland doesn’t work properly, it’s unable to secrete high-quality oils to keep the eye lubricated. This then causes the tears to evaporate at a much faster rate — resulting in dry eyes. Certain conditions can increase the risk of this gland dysfunction such as rosacea and diabetes.

Frequent use of electronic devices and screens could be a possible cause of dry eyes in children. One study found that children who use smartphones for a prolonged time have a lower blink rate. Having a decreased blink rate can create instability of the tear layer, causing dry eyes. For more information, please read our article on computer vision syndrome and meibomian gland dysfunction.

Another cause may be allergies that appear during the change in seasons. Again, allergies can cause tear film instability and inflammation and irritation of the eye.

Sometimes dry eyes can be caused by diet — it’s normally associated with vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency can cause a change in how the body produces tears, leading to dry eyes.

Dry eyes in children diagnosis

An ophthalmologist will be the one to typically diagnose dry eyes in children. They will normally perform several eye tests to do so.

A thorough eye exam will be done first to get an overall picture of the health of the child’s eyes. A test may also be performed to measure the volume of your child’s tears — this is called a Schirmer tear test. Strips of blotting paper are placed under the eyes to catch tears so that they can be measured after a certain amount of time.

Another test that may be done to measure tear volume involves a pH-sensitive dye being put onto the lower eyelid so that the tears change colour. This test can be performed quicker, so it may be used on children who aren’t able to sit still for too long.

A tear osmolarity test can also be performed to check the quality of the child’s tears, as it will measure the amount of water in the tears and what they’re comprised of. Children with dry eyes may have less water in their eyes and tears, so this test can help with diagnosis.

Treatment for dry eyes in children

Treatment for dry eyes in children can vary, and there are some home remedies that you can do for them as a parent. The easiest home remedies can include:

• Applying a warm compress over your child’s eyes
• Using over-the-counter eye drops
• Making sure your child wears wrap-around sunglasses outside
• Taking regular breaks from and limiting screen time

Sometimes home remedies aren’t enough, and your child will need dry eye treatments like the ones we can offer at Eye Clinic London. We offer a range of treatments for dry eyes, including:

• Artificial tear drops
• Punctal plugs
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy

Punctal plugs block the draining of the tear ducts, and the small device is inserted into the eye through a simple surgery. They’re placed into the tear ducts to stop your tears from evaporating so quickly — helping to keep the eyes moist. If your child is experiencing severe dry eyes, then punctual plugs may be offered as a solution.

IPL therapy can be used to restore the tear film in the eye and reduce inflammation of the eyes — helping to combat dry eyes. At Eye Clinic London, we offer Lumenis Optima M22 IPL, which is a revolutionary treatment aimed at treating meibomian gland dysfunction.

When you speak to your doctor or ophthalmologist, they’ll advise you on the best course of action for your child, and it may be one or more of these treatments.

How to give a child eye drops

Sometimes, eye drops are prescribed for children with dry eyes, but it can be tough trying to administer them — especially with younger children.

To help, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide so you can give your child their eye drops with ease.

1. First, you need to ensure you have freshly washed, clean hands.
2. Second, you need to position your child so that you can access the eyes easily. The best positions are with their head tilted back, lying flat on their back, or lying supported on you so they feel comfortable. If they’re unable to sit still, wrapping them in a blanket can help, as it can provide another layer of comfort for them.
3. Next, you want to prepare the eye drops according to the instructions — this can include shaking the bottle.
4. Then you want to remove the lid and any plastic seal that was on the bottle.
5. Carefully pull your child’s lower eyelid down — you want to avoid touching their actual eye.
6. Hold the end of the dropper just above their eye and squeeze in the required number of drops.
7. Let go of their lower eyelid and allow them to blink, ensuring that it spreads all around the affected eye.
8. Pop the bottle lid back on and wipe away any drops from their face with a clean tissue.

If you’re still struggling to administer eye drops, you might want to seek support from another adult so that one of you can put in the drops and the other can hold the child still gently.

When to speak to an ophthalmologist

If your child is suffering from dry eyes, and all the home remedies you’ve tried haven’t worked, you can contact us at Eye Clinic London. We’ll be able to properly diagnose their condition and get to the root cause of it, as well as provide effective treatments.

At Eye Clinic London we offer consultations for all potential patients. Book your child’s consultation here, and you can get them on the road to recovery much sooner. Our expert team will be more than happy to assist you and your child, as well as help get their condition diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.