Dry Eye

Dry Eye

Dry eye is an uncomfortable condition that causes itching and dryness around the eye. While benign, dry eye can have a major impact on your quality of life. Many people with the condition find that their eyes get tired faster, forcing them to take frequent breaks or avoid certain activities.

In some cases, the condition causes a burning sensation or blurry vision, making it harder to focus.

Dry Eye

Dry Eye

Dry eye is an uncomfortable condition that causes itching and dryness around the eye. While benign, dry eye can have a major impact on your quality of life. Many people with the condition find that their eyes get tired faster, forcing them to take frequent breaks or avoid certain activities.

In some cases, the condition causes a burning sensation or blurry vision, making it harder to focus.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when the body fails to produce enough fluids to lubricate and nourish the surface of the eye.

Tears are essential to eye function and health, helping to prevent eye infections, washing away irritants, and keeping the eye’s surface smooth and clear. When our eyes lack moisture, problems can arise, leading to discomfort and irritation.

Often mistaken for allergies, many people suffer from dry eyes without knowing the cause of their symptoms.

While more common in older adults, individuals of all ages can develop the condition.

Dry Eye Treatments

Depending on the severity of your condition, different treatments are available to relieve your worst symptoms.

While some individuals find relief through over-the-counter aids like eye drops, one of our eye specialists can guide you through your treatment options, helping you find the solution that’s right for you.

Artificial Tears

For mild cases of dry eyes, the best option is often over-the-counter eye drops. These lubricants compensate for a lack of moisture in the eye by introducing fluids that act as artificial tears. Several types of artificial tears are also available, including long-acting and short-acting formulas.

Everyone’s eyes are different. Prescription treatments offer patients a customizable solution that our specialists can personalize to your specific needs. Not all prescription dry eye treatments work for everyone, so speak with your eye doctor to learn which options might be the best for you.

Contacts – Specialty contact lenses (called scleral lenses or bandage lenses) are designed to deliver moisture to the surface of the eye, providing vision-improving benefits while alleviating your dry eye symptoms.

Antibiotics – This class of drugs can be used to control inflammation in the eye that prevents oil glands from secreting the lubricating fluids that keep your eyes moist and clear.

Anti-inflammatory Eye Drops – Specially formulated eye drops control inflammation on the surface of your eyes with immune-suppressing medications like cyclosporine (Restasis) or corticosteroids.

Eye Inserts – An alternative to artificial tears, eye inserts made of hydroxypropyl cellulose (Lacrisert) go directly between your lower eyelid and eyeball, dissolving slowly throughout the day to lubricate your eye.

Tear-stimulating drugs – Available as pills, gel or eye drops, cholinergic (pilocarpine, cevimeline) is a drug that stimulates tear production.

Autologous Blood Serum Drops – For treatment-resistant dry eye, eyedrops derived from samples of your blood are mixed with a saline solution to create a lubricating fluid that works synergistically with your body to keep your eyes clear.

Punctal Plugs – Tear loss is a common cause of dry eye. To prevent fluids from draining from the eye too quickly, tiny silicone plugs can be used to block the tear ducts.

LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation – Used to unblock oil glands in your eye, this device delivers a gentle, warm massage to the lower eyelid over 15 minutes.

Intense-Pulsed Therapy – Precision light beams liquefy and release hardened oils that have clogged glands in the eyelids.

Don’t let dry eye keep you from doing what you love. Speak with one of our eye care specialists today ​​​​​​​to find a treatment that’s right for you.

See Clearly. Feel Confident.