Dry Eye Treatment
Do you feel a burning sensation, itchiness, or a gritty sensation around your eyelids? Do you experience excessive tearing or watery eyes?
You might have dry eye syndrome.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome? (DES)
Dry eye syndrome occurs when tear production and drainage are not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears, or their tears are of poor quality. The result? Unpleasant symptoms, including itching, burning, redness, watery eyes, excessive tearing — and even eye pain. Dry eye syndrome can also increase your risk for more serious eye problems like corneal ulcers.
Without treatment or proper medication, DES can worsen over time.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
While over 80% of dry eye cases are due to blocked oil glands in the eyelids — a condition called meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye — other factors can also cause this syndrome. These include:
Gender — the majority of dry eye sufferers are women. This tends to be caused by hormonal changes, whether through the use of contraceptives, pregnancy, or menopause.
Age — there’s a higher prevalence of DES in those over 50 years of age.
Environment — dry wind, dry air, and dry climates can evaporate tears. Home and car heaters, air conditioners, fans, and hair dryers also cause tears to evaporate.
Medication — these include antidepressants, decongestants, and blood pressure medications.
Auto-immune disorders — Sjogren’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
Lasting & Effective Dry Eye Treatment
Our dry eye treatment program is individualized to each patient according to the root cause of their condition.
We aim to restore or maintain the normal amount of tears in the eye to minimize dryness and discomfort. Book a consultation with one of our eye doctors, who can prescribe a customized treatment plan to keep your eyes healthy and comfortable all day, every day.
How Do I Know If I have Dry Eye Syndrome?
Do any of these symptoms seem familiar?
- Gritty, itchy, or stinging eyes
- Excessive tearing and discharge
- Eyes that feel tired or dry
- Increased light sensitivity
- Regularly using eye drops
- Discomfort that worsens as the day progresses
If so, you may have dry eye syndrome. Take our dry eye quiz to find out!
