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Dry Eye Disease

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We specialize in treating Dry Eye Disease.

Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes.  Dry eyes can be managed successfully, usually resulting in noticeably greater eye comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms, and sometimes sharper vision as well.

Symptoms

Here are the most common Dry Eye Symptoms:

  1. A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes.
  2. Stringy mucus in or around your eyes.
  3. Sensitivity to light.
  4. Eye redness.
  5. A sensation of having something in your eyes.
  6. Difficulty wearing contact lenses.
  7. Difficulty with nighttime driving.
  8. Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes.
  9. Dry, Sandy, Gritty eyes.

Do these words describe your ocular symptoms?

If yes, see your eye doctor ASAP. If you’ve had prolonged signs and symptoms of dry eyes, including red, irritated, tired or painful eyes, don’t wait, go see your doctor or call us at 407-292-9812 for an appointment.

Some of the causes of Dry Eye

There are several reasons that could be causing your eyes to feel this way. These may include:

  1. Medication you’re taking
  2. Fatigue
  3. Stress
  4. Family history
  5. Smoking
  6. The tear glands (lacrimal glands), located above each eyeball, continuously supply tear fluid that’s wiped across the surface of your eye each time you blink your eyes.
  7. Decreased tear production
  8. Aging
  9. Certain medical conditions including Sjogren’s syndrome, allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, graft vs. host disease, sarcoidosis, thyroid disorders or vitamin A deficiency
  10. Increased tear production
  11. Blinking less often, which tends to occur with certain conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease; or when you’re concentrating during certain activities, such as while reading, driving or working at a computer
  12. Eyelid problems, such as the lids turning outward (ectropion) and the lids turning inward (entropion)
  13. Eye allergies
  14. Preservatives in topical eyedrops
  15. Wind, smoke or dry air
  16. Vitamin A deficiency

Your eye doctor can help you identify the causes of your dry eye.

Prevention

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some practical tips you can use to prevent dry eye:

  1. Avoid air blowing in your eyes. Don’t direct hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners or fans toward your eyes.
  2. Add moisture to the air. In winter, a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air.
  3. Consider wearing wraparound sunglasses or other protective eyewear. Safety shields can be added to the tops and sides of eyeglasses to block wind and dry air. Ask about shields where you buy your eyeglasses.
  4. Take eye breaks during long tasks. If you’re reading or doing another task that requires visual concentration, take periodic eye breaks. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Or blink repeatedly for a few seconds to help spread your tears evenly over your eyes.
  5. Be aware of your environment. The air at high altitudes, in desert areas and in airplanes can be extremely dry. When spending time in such an environment, it may be helpful to frequently close your eyes for a few minutes at a time to minimize evaporation of your tears.
  6. Position your computer screen below eye level. If your computer screen is above eye level, you’ll open your eyes wider to view the screen. Position your computer screen below eye level so that you won’t open your eyes as wide. This may help slow the evaporation of your tears between eye blinks.
  7. Stop smoking and avoid smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help devising a quit-smoking strategy that’s most likely to work for you. If you don’t smoke, stay away from people who do. Smoke can worsen dry eyes symptoms.
  8. Use artificial tears regularly. If you have chronic dry eyes, use eyedrops even when your eyes feel fine to keep them well lubricated.

What we can do to give relief from dry eye

Because dry eye disease can have a number of causes, a variety of treatment approaches are used. When you come in for your evaluation, our doctors may recommend only one of these dry eye treatments or a combination of treatments, depending on the cause(s) and severity of your condition.  Below is a sample of dry eye treatments that we offer in our office:

  1. OTC Artificial Tears
  2. Prescription Eye Drops
  3. Punctal Plugs
  4. Meibomian Gland Expression
  5. Warm Compresses
  6. Lipiflow
  7. Nutritional Supplements
  8. Specialty Glasses for Digital Device Use
  9. Specialty Sunglasses
  10. Eyelid Cleansing and Exfoliation

How do I get started with Dry Eye Treatment?

Click HERE to schedule your Dry Eyes Evaluation or call us at (407) 292-9812 for more information.

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