Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eye is one of the most common reasons people see an eye doctor. It can cause burning, grittiness, redness, blurry vision that clears when you blink, and even watery eyes. The right treatment depends on the cause, so we start by finding out why your eyes are dry.

Dr. Mitchell Dang leads our dry eye care. Your first visit is a full evaluation, and any in office procedure is scheduled for a later visit.

Common causes

• Blocked oil glands in the eyelids, called meibomian gland dysfunction, which is the most common cause
• Inflammation of the eye surface or eyelids, including rosacea
• Too few tears, often with age, hormones or conditions such as Sjogren syndrome
• Screen time, contact lenses, some medications and dry indoor air
• Past eye surgery, including LASIK

Your dry eye evaluation

We look at the quality and amount of your tears, the oil glands in your eyelids and the surface of your eye. This tells us which type of dry eye you have and which treatments are most likely to help.

Treatments we offer

• Prescription eye drops that calm inflammation and help your eyes make more of their own tears
• Meibomian gland expression to clear blocked oil glands in the eyelids
• Intense pulsed light (IPL), gentle light pulses around the eyes that calm inflammation and improve oil gland function, usually as a short series
• Punctal plugs and Lacrifill, which keep your natural tears on the eye longer
• Amniotic membrane treatment, a thin natural tissue placed on the eye to help a damaged surface heal
• Scleral contact lenses that bathe the eye in fluid for severe dry eye

Dry eye before cataract or LASIK surgery

Dry eye can throw off the measurements used to plan cataract surgery and vision correction. We often treat dry eye first so your surgery results are as sharp as possible.

Insurance

Dry eye evaluations and many treatments are billed to medical insurance. Some treatments, such as IPL, are not covered, and we always tell you the cost before treatment.

Common questions

Why are my eyes watery if I have dry eye?

When the eye surface is irritated, it can trigger a flood of reflex tears. These tears are mostly water and do not protect the eye well, so the dryness comes right back.

Are artificial tears enough?

For mild dry eye, artificial tears may be enough. If you use them more than four times a day or still have symptoms, an evaluation can find treatments that address the cause.

Is dry eye curable?

Dry eye is usually a long term condition, but most people feel much better with the right treatment plan and regular care.

Can I still wear contact lenses?

Often yes. Treating dry eye, changing lens type or using specialty lenses can make contact lenses comfortable again.