Disease Diagnosis/Management

Dry Eyes

Dry Eyes: Symptoms include scratchy eyes, burning, mild redness and gritty feeling eyes. Oral medications, reading, computer tasks and dry environments may aggravate marginally dry eyes. Dry eyes can be diagnosed by using dyes to observe tear patterns, evaluation of the amount of tears on the front of the eye and from review of your symptoms. Treatment may include artificial tears; eye drops for treating allergies; and/or punctal plugs inserted in the tear drainage canals.  If the level of dryness is severe, recently a prescription medication Restasis® has become available to help patient’s generate more of their own natural tears.  Please let us know if you feel this may help your overall comfort.

Dry Eye:  Some of the underlying causes of Dry Eye can include the following:

  • Environmental Factors - Smoke, air pollution and/or sunny, windy, cold or dry air conditions.
  • Contact Lenses - Contact lens wear can promote the detrimental effect of increased tear evaporation resulting in general discomfort, infection, and/or increased protein deposits.
  • Age - Tear production usually decreases with age and research has shown more than half of individuals over age 65 suffer from mild to moderate dry eye.
  • Medications and Conditions - There are several conditions—Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren’s Disease and Menopause— and medications (especially antihistamines) which can lower your ability to produce tears.
  • Hormone Changes - Changes in hormone levels associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptives and menopause can contribute to dry eye.

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