What Are The Best Dry Eye Treatments For You?

If you suffer from dry eye – you’re not alone. It is a common complaint, and while it isn’t a sight-threatening condition, it can be persistent and cause a lot of discomfort day to day.

As the name suggests, dry eye is when the eyes lack adequate lubrication, usually due to not making enough tears or when the tears produced are of poor quality. Certain environmental factors can contribute to dry eye, too, such as air-conditioned or heated rooms, extended screen use, or outdoor activities that expose your eyes to the elements, such as cycling.

We’re here to guide you through the common symptoms of dry eye and offer our recommendations for the best dry eye treatments that we can offer at our office.

Common Signs And Symptoms

Dry eye usually affects both eyes and typically includes a combination of symptoms, including:

• irritated eyes with a scratchy, stinging, or burning sensation
• sensitivity to light
• blurry vision
• eye fatigue
• redness
• difficulty with driving and wearing contact lenses
• excessively watery eyes

Dry Eye Treatment Options

Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for dry eye, but it can be managed in various ways. At Kvitle Eyecare Associates, we have invested in the most advanced diagnostic equipment as we believe it’s important to offer the best and latest treatment for dry eye syndrome.

TearLab

With dry eye being one of the most under-diagnosed ocular diseases, TearLab is an incredibly valuable addition to our toolkit. It’s a non-invasive test and extremely effective. With a tiny amount of tear fluid and a temperature-corrected impedance measurement, the machine can analyze the quality of your tears. The osmolarity (the saltiness) is of key importance. With all this data, we can diagnose the problem and put together a personalized treatment plan for you.

Dry Eye Mask

The eyes contain a gland that produces meibomian oil. The tears in our eyes are made up of 3 layers: an oily layer, a watery layer, and a mucus layer. The oily part ensures that tears don’t evaporate quickly, helping to keep the eyes lubricated and at optimum levels of moisture. A dry eye mask can help increase oil production by warming and loosening clogs in your meibomian glands. This allows your eyes to stay hydrated and reduces inflammation.

Artificial Tears

Artificial tears, or eye drops, are a simple way to provide immediate relief to the eye and add lubrication and moisture. Some specific artificial tears will decrease tear evaporation, while others may contain thickening agents.

Depending on the cause of your dry eye, Dr. Jason Kvitle will choose the right artificial tears to alleviate your specific symptoms. As there are a variety available, it might take some trial and error to find the most suitable product for you.

Vitamins For Dry Eyes

Some vitamins can help relieve the symptoms of dry eye and boost the tear film. Vitamin A helps protect the surface of the eye, preventing the development of this condition. Vitamin D improves the ocular surface and tear osmolarity, resulting in better tear stability. Vitamin B12 also helps lubricate the eyes, while Omega 3 oil improves the eyes oil film produced in the small glands.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are an option in more severe cases. Small soft plugs are placed inside the tear ducts to help retain fluid, aiding with moisture levels. They work to block any tear drainage in the tear duct, allowing the tears to stay on the surface of the eye longer. It is a simple procedure that Dr. Kvitle can carry out in the office with a range of different plugs that can be semi-permanent or dissolvable, depending on your needs.

Contact Dr. Jason Kvitle – Your Optometrist – Quincy, IL

If you’re suffering from dry eye, please get in touch with our friendly team. With a combination of technology, expertise, and advice, we’ll be able to get you started on your journey to relief through a customized management plan for you.