Dry Eye Relief Center Specialist

**Click blue text for video

How are Dry Eyes Diagnosed?

There any many types and causes of dry eyes. Most people who have dry eyes have symptoms.

Typical symptoms include:

• Pain and itching
• Gritty sensations
• Tearing
• Redness and blurred vision
• Feeling as if something is in the eye
• Glare at night
• Fluctuating vision

At InVision we recognize that a proper diagnosis of the type of dry eye is the best way to optimize treatment. A proper diagnosis of dry eyes requires experience and specialized equipment. Dry eyes are one of our specialties. Our practice utilizes leading-edge technologies to better care for your dry eyes. This includes: serum analysis, tear analysis, lipid layer analysis, infrared meibomian gland imaging, vital surface staining, tear break-up monitors, slow-motion video blink analysis and more.

How Do Our Eyes Stay Moist and Comfortable?

In order to maintain consistent moisture and lubrication, the eye produces many important substances in addition to tears. The balance of these substances is crucial for comfort. These substances include: mucus, water, oil, antibodies, and special proteins that assist to protect the eye against infection. They are produced by different glands around the eyes. If these glands don’t function properly, an imbalance can occur, causing the eyes become dry.

When eyes become overly dry, a distress signal is sent to the nervous system and brain that tells the body to make additional tears. However, these tears do not help much since they are composed mostly of water.

What Can Cause Eyes to Become Dry?

Dry eyes are caused by a tear imbalance. Causes of an imbalance can include:

• Aging
• A low humidity environment, such as dry heat or air conditioning
• Certain medications
• Structural abnormalities of the eyelids
• Diseases, including Sjogren’s syndrome, collagen vascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Skin conditions, such as rosacea
• Eyelid crusting – called blepharitis
• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
• Contact lens usage
• Reduced blinking, which can occur during reading, working on a computer or watching TV

How Are Dry Eyes Treated?

The treatment of dry eyes depends on the cause. Once that is determined, a treatment plan is tailored to address the underlying issue. Treatment options include: lubricating drops, nutritional supplements, warm compresses, eyelid hygiene, topical medications, punctal plugs, meibomian gland expression-Lipiflow, Prokera, and intense pulsed light therapy (IPL).

Severe dry eyes can threaten vision. In such cases, our team may recommend specialized contact lenses or surgical procedures. When calling our office for an appointment, please specify if you are coming for a dry eye evaluation.

Take the Dry Eye Test by taking the dry eye questionnaire here. 

Patient Reviews