Dry Eye Evaluations

Dry Eyes are a common symptom that brings many people to our practice.

Dry Eyes can be caused by a variety of conditions, including the following:

  • Medications
  • Hormonal Fluctuations
  • Pregnancy
  • History of LASIK
  • Auto-Immune Diseases (Arthritis, Gout, etc.)
  • Environmental Factors

If a patient has a dry eye complaint, our physicians generally perform a variety of tests to determine what type of dry eyes you have.  The two most common symptoms of dry eyes are 1) lack of natural tear production, and 2) increased evaporation of natural tears.  Once the type of dryness is diagnosed, treatment can be tailored so that it is more effective.

Treatment of dry eyes can include:

  • Over the Counter Artificial Tears – Your physician will discuss which type of drops will provide the best relief for your type of dryness.
  • Punctal Plugs – For advanced cases of dryness, our physicians may recommend inserting microscopic silicone plugs into each tear duct in order to keep more of your tears on the eye surface for longer.  This in office procedure is painless and provides many of our patients with a reduced dependency on artificial tears.
  • Restasis – This medication allows the patient to produce more of their natural tears.  This medication typically takes 2-3 months to improve symptoms, so our physicians usually pair it with a mild topical steroid drop to speed up the resolution of dry eye symptoms.
  • Medicated Drops – Dry Eye Disease is an inflammatory condition that often times must be treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops.  Our physicians will determine if this course of therapy is a necessary component to your overall treatment plan.