Relief from Dry Eye Syndrome
Persistent dryness, irritation, and blurred vision don’t have to be part of life. Our specialists provide personalized care and advanced treatments to restore comfort and clarity.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Syndrome (also known as Ocular Surface Disease) is a common condition that occurs when eyes don't produce enough quality tears or when tears evaporate too quickly.
The continuous production and drainage of tears is important to eye health. Tears keep the eye moist, help wounds heal, and protect against eye infection. For people with dry eye, the eye produces fewer or poor quality tears and is unable to keep its surface lubricated and comfortable.
The tear film consists of three layers–an outer, oily (lipid) layer that keeps tears from evaporating too quickly and helps tears remain on the eye; a middle (aqueous) layer that nourishes the cornea and conjunctiva; and a bottom (mucin) layer that helps to spread the aqueous layer across the eye to ensure that the eye remains wet. As we age, the eyes usually produce fewer tears. In some cases, the lipid and mucin layers produced by the eye are of such poor quality that tears cannot remain on the eye long enough to keep the eye sufficiently lubricated.
Common Causes:
Dry eye is often chronic and can be caused by various factors, including:
- Age: Tear production naturally decreases as we get older.
- Medication: Certain medications (antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants) can reduce tear production.
- Environmental Factors: Wind, smoke, dry climates, and extended screen time.
- Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): A problem with the tiny glands in the eyelids that produce the essential oily layer of tears.
Dry eye is more common in women, especially after menopause. Dry eye can occur in climates with dry air, as well as with the use of some drugs, including antihistamines, nasal decongestants, tranquilizers, and anti-depressant drugs. People with dry eye should let their health care providers know all the medications they are taking, since some of them may intensify dry eye symptoms.
People with connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also develop dry eye. It is important to note that dry eye is sometimes a symptom of Sjögren’s syndrome, a disease that attacks the body’s lubricating glands, such as the tear and salivary glands. A complete physical examination may diagnose any underlying diseases.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Patients with dry eye often experience persistent symptoms that interfere with daily life, including:
A stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in the eyes.
The feeling that something is constantly in your eye (foreign body sensation).
Redness and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Watery eyes (ironically, the eye's attempt to compensate for underlying dryness).
Blurred vision or fluctuating vision, especially when reading or using a computer.
Custom Dry Eye Treatments
Because dry eye has many different causes, we don't offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Our specialists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the specific cause of dry eye and create a personalized treatment plan.
Our treatment approach ranges from simple lifestyle changes to advanced, in-office procedures: