DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What causes dry eyes? Is there an effective treatment other than constantly using eye drops to keep them moist?

ANSWER: Dry eyes happen when your eyes do not make enough tears or when those tears are poor quality. Treatment of dry eyes often includes medication, eye drops or ointment. But new treatments for a certain type of dry eyes may provide relief when standard treatments fail.

To keep your vision clear and your eyes comfortable, you need a smooth layer of tears consistently covering the surface of your eyes. The tear film has three basic components: oil, water and mucus. Problems with any of these can cause dry eyes.

Symptoms of dry eyes often include blurry vision, eye redness, sensitivity to light, and a burning, gritty or scratchy feeling in your eyes. Dry eyes may cause excessive tearing in some cases. They can make it difficult to wear contact lenses, too. Medications, age, eyelid problems, environmental factors (such as climate) and excessive eye strain can all result in dry eyes.

For some people with chronic dry eyes, the problem stems from glands in the eyelids, called the meibomian glands. Normally, these glands make oil that slows the evaporation of tears. If the glands become blocked, tears do not contain enough oil. Then the tears evaporate too quickly, and eyes become dry. This type of dry eye condition is known as evaporative dry eye. Inflammation of the eyelid skin — a disorder called ocular rosacea — can often result in blocked meibomian glands. [...]

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 11-year-old began wearing glasses for nearsightedness when he was 7. Since then his prescription has gotten steadily worse. He has needed new glasses about every eight to ten months. His optometrist says this is not uncommon. But I’m worried. Is there an age a child’s eyesight typically stops changing? Should we take our son to see an ophthalmologist for a more thorough assessment?

ANSWER: From your description, your son’s changing eyesight sounds like it is within the normal range for a child his age. Unless he has other symptoms or other health problems that could be affecting his eyesight, it is unlikely that he needs a consultation with an ophthalmologist at this time.

Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a vision condition in which you can see objects that are near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry. Nearsightedness happens either when the cornea — the clear front surface of your eye — is curved too much or when your eye is longer than normal. That causes light coming into your eye to be focused in front of the retina at the back of your eye, instead of directly on the retina. The result is blurry vision.

Many children develop nearsightedness during the early elementary school years, often around age 6 or 7. The condition usually continues to get worse throughout the teen years as a child grows. An increase in nearsightedness often is most rapid during early adolescence, around ages 11 to 13 years. It tends to slow and then stabilize by the late teens or early 20s. [...]

PHOENIX — In a new Mayo Clinic study, researchers examined the physical act of reading to see if practicing eye movements in school could lead to better early reading fluency.

Saccades or rapid eye movements are required for the physical act of reading. Previous studies have shown that the ability to perform complex tasks such as saccadic eye movements are not fully developed at the age when children begin to learn to read. Eye movements in younger children are imprecise, resulting in the need for the eyes to go back to re-read text, leading to slower performance. When translated into the task of reading, it slows the reading rate and leads to poor reading fluency and may affect reading comprehension and academic performance. [...]

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Sunburn
Although the temperature is rising, making sunburn more likely, you can still get burned on cool or cloudy days. Find out which remedies really work.

Understand food labels to avoid allergic reactions
Perhaps you or a family member has a food allergy, or you're cooking a meal for someone who does. Know how to read food labels so you can recognize allergen information.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Pink eye treatment: What if I wear contact lenses?
Pink eye treatment can affect your contact lenses as well as your eyes.

Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
Your results from a free blood pressure monitoring machine may not be accurate.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Anger management: Your questions answered
Choking: First aid
Blood and bone marrow donation
Menopause weight gain: Stop the middle age spread

HEALTHY RECIPES
Honey crusted chicken
Creamy fruit dessert
Fresh tomato crostini
Pasta with spinach, garbanzos and raisins

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[...]

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Fall prevention: Simple tips to prevent falls
Take steps now to prevent falls and maintain your independence. Here are six strategies to help you avoid injury.

Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition
A vegetarian diet can meet your nutritional needs if you follow this helpful guide.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills?
Your fitness goals can help you determine which type of exercise equipment to use.

Coffee calories: Sabotaging your weight loss?
Plain coffee has only a few calories, but the numbers rise when you start adding extras.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Mosquito bites
Mental health: What's normal, what's not
Obesity
Calcium and calcium supplements: The right balance

HEALTHY RECIPES
Grilled angel food cake
Vegetarian kebabs
Mediterranean-style grilled salmon
Caesar salad with grilled chicken

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[...]

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Here are highlights from the May issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit http://www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com/ or call toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771. Full newsletter text: MCHL_May2014 (for journalists only).

Choosing the right time for cataract surgery

Some degree of vision clouding caused by cataracts occurs in most people as they age. But according to the May issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, there’s no need to rush scheduling the surgery to remove the cataracts. The right time for surgery should be determined by weighing expected improvements in vision against the very slight risk of a less than ideal outcome.

There are several types of age-related cataracts with subtle differences. Except in rare instances, cataracts develop painlessly and gradually, leading to vision changes that include:

• Increasingly blurred or dim vision
• Increasing difficulty with night vision
• Sensitivity to bright light and glare
• Seeing halos around lights
• Double vision in one eye

In the early stages of the disease, adjustments such as different eyeglasses, brighter lighting and wearing sunglasses to reduce glare may compensate for vision changes. When cataracts interfere with daily tasks, surgery should be considered. [...]

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
5K run: 7-week training schedule for beginners
Doing a 5K run or walk can add a new level of challenge to your exercise program. This training schedule can help you make it to race day.

Sexual health and aging: Keep the passion alive
Sexual health is important at any age. Find out how aging can affect sexuality and what you and your partner can do to adapt.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Kidney donation: Are there long-term risks?
There's little long-term risk for kidney donation, provided you're carefully screened beforehand.

What are the signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) includes a pattern of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior.

HEALTHY RECIPES
Fettuccine with Swiss chard and mushrooms
Braised kale with cherry tomatoes
Sesame-crusted tofu
Peach floats

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Veggie tip: Vegetable pita pockets
Want a new way to enjoy fresh vegetables? Make your own vegetable pita pockets. In a small bowl, add cauliflower and broccoli florets, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes and cucumbers, and 1 1/2 teaspoons low-fat buttermilk or ranch salad dressing. Cut 1 whole-wheat pita bread in half and fill each half with the vegetable mixture and 1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese. Warm in the microwave for about 40 seconds.

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[...]