Dry eye requires a little TLC – tear layer care
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Dry eye requires a little TLC – tear layer care

Shirley Miller Ophthalmic nurse practitioner, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, Fife

Shirley Miller explores why cases of this condition are increasing, and explains how better diagnosis and treatment could significantly improve patient wellbeing

Many women in their late forties and older are referred to specialist ophthalmic nurse practitioners in the belief that they require punctual occlusion, when their condition could easily be treated with drops specially formulated for dry eyes. Dry-eye syndrome is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms can vary considerably from patient to patient. Although normally a mild condition, if left untreated it can become more serious, leading to corneal ulcers and other complications. Increased awareness of this condition in primary care would enable treatment to be initiated earlier, significantly improving patient wellbeing.

Primary Health Care. 23, 9, 30-33. doi: 10.7748/phc2013.11.23.9.30.e728

Correspondence

smiller1@nhs.net

Conflict of interest

None declared. The author is independent of Altacor and is not employed by the company

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Received: 30 November 2012

Accepted: 09 July 2013

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