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Dry Eye Treatment

Do you feel like your eyes are constantly dry and irritated? You may have dry eye syndrome, a common eye condition that can be difficult to manage on your own. At 20/20 Eye Physicians of Indiana, our team of experts offers a range of solutions to help alleviate your symptoms and improve your comfort. 

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye syndrome, or dry eye, is a chronic eye condition that occurs when your eyes cannot produce enough tears or your tears are low in quality. Low-quality tears do not contain all three components of a healthy tear: oil, mucus, and water.

If one of the components is missing, your tears may evaporate too quickly, and it can be difficult for your eyes to stay lubricated, causing frustrating symptoms. Other than dry eyes, some of the symptoms of dry eye syndrome may include:

  • Irritation, burning, or stinging sensations
  • Grittiness
  • Blurry vision
  • Overly watery eyes
  • Increased light sensitivity
  • Mucus in or around your eyes
  • Difficulty wearing contact lenses
  • Eye fatigue
  • Feeling like there’s something in your eye
  • Redness and inflammation

Although these symptoms often indicate dry eye, they could be signs of a different condition. The only way to know if you have dry eye syndrome is to undergo an eye exam with your eye doctor at 20/20 Eye Physicians of Indiana.

They can help properly diagnose your condition and recommend treatment options based on your needs.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Although anyone can develop dry eye, several factors may increase your risk of developing the condition, including:

  • Being over the age of 50
  • Having eye conditions like ectropion, entropion, or blepharitis
  • Taking medications like antidepressants, antihistamines, or diuretics
  • Being a woman and/or being in menopause
  • Having certain autoimmune, neurological, and thyroid conditions
  • Having had specific vision correction procedures like LASIK or cataract surgery
  • Environmental factors like weather or seasonal allergies
  • Lifestyle factors like looking at screens, contact lens use, or smoking

How is Dry Eye Treated?

Depending on the cause and severity of your dry eye syndrome, certain lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms of dry eye, like cutting down on screen time, staying hydrated, and using a humidifier. At 20/20 Eye Physicians of Indiana, we offer comprehensive and effective treatments, including:

Your eye doctor may recommend using artificial tears to lubricate your eyes and relieve dry eye symptoms. They are available over-the-counter at most pharmacies and can be applied regularly or as needed.

Prescription eye drops may be needed. Your doctor will review your condition, prior treatments, and current medication to see if prescription eye drops are right for you.

Punctal plugs are tiny silicone or gel plugs your eye doctor can place in the tear ducts of your lower eyelid to prevent tears from draining away as quickly. They can be permanent or temporary and are easily removable by your eye doctor.

Similar in structure to a large contact lens, made from amniotic membrane that reduces inflammation in the eye. It is inserted by your eye doctor and kept in your eye for a treatment period of 3-5 days to relieve symptoms of dry eye.

Meibomian gland expression helps ease symptoms of dry eye through releasing blockages in the meibomian glands. Your eye doctor will use specialized tools to apply pressure and heat to the eyelids, promoting healthy oil secretion to the eye’s surface.

You don’t have to deal with the discomfort of dry eye syndrome on your own. Schedule an appointment with 20/20 Eye Physicians of Indiana to get relief today!

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