Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome (dry eye) is a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication or moisture on the surface of the eye. Its symptoms range from minor irritation to fluctuations in vision. It can also increase risk of corneal inflammation and eye infections.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Some common symptoms of dry eyes include burning, itching, or a gritty/foreign body sensation in the eyes. Depending on severity of the condition, the eyes may also feel painful or become sensitive to light.  Sometimes dry eye syndrome can cause watery or tearing eyes. It may seem odd that your eyes are tearing when they get too dry, but this is because the excessive dryness works to overstimulate production of the watery component of your tears.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eye can have several causes. Certain medications, hormones, systemic conditions, and the use of contact lenses can be contributing to your dryness. However, it is more common now than ever that an external factor may be the culprit in causing dry eye symptoms.

Computer, tablet, and cellphone use  has been identified as a major factor in dry eye disease. We do not blink as much as we should when looking at screens and this can cause the meibomian (oil) glands around our eyes to become stagnant which leads to evaporative dry eyes.  This chronic low blink rate can be damaging to these meibomian glands. Talk to your doctor today if you are concerned about screen-related dry eyes. 

What Treatments are Available?

There are many different treatment options but the best treatment depends on the type and severity of dry eye you have.  This can be determined with our in-office tests.  We evaluate how quickly your tears evaporate, your meibomian gland function, and the quality of your cornea and tear film just to name a few. Sometimes we may measure the concentration, or osmolarity, of your tears to help with the determination.

Treatments include nutriceuticals (DHA/EPA), over-the-counter therapies, prescription therapies (Xiidra, Restasis, Cequa), punctal plugs, manual gland heating and expression (TearCare®), and intense-pulsed light (IPL - Optilight). Our practice currently offers all of these services plus more!