Dry Eyes
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Eye Treatment Center
Board Certified Ophthalmologists & Optometrists located in Long Beach, CA
More than 16 million men and women in the United States have dry eye disease, often just called dry eyes. If you have constant eye dryness, irritation, redness, or other kinds of discomfort, reach out for dry eye syndrome evaluation and treatment from the expert ophthalmologists at Eye Treatment Center. Call the Long Beach, California, office or use the online appointment tool anytime.
Dry Eyes Q & A
What are dry eyes?
Dry eye syndrome, often simply called dry eyes, is a chronic condition that causes many common issues such as:
- Dry eyes
- Red eyes
- Gritty or sandy-feeling eyes
- Feeling of an object stuck in your eyes
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
- Eye discomfort or pain
- Heavy-feeling eyes
Eye watering is another common symptom of dry eye syndrome. This is a reflex caused by intense irritation, and the water doesn't contain lubricants so it doesn't soothe your symptoms at all.
Why do I have dry eyes?
There are many potential causes, including:
- Aging: Production of tears decreases with age
- Medications: Drugs for blood pressure, allergies, depression, acne, and other conditions
- Hormones: Decrease at menopause
- Systemic diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and others
- Blepharitis: Eyelid inflammation
- Refractive surgery: After surgery, lasts 3-6 months on average
- Environment: Dusty, windy, and dry climates
- Screen use: Long periods of screen use without blinking
- Contact lenses: Wearing lenses for longer than recommended
The Eye Treatment Center providers review your medical history and symptoms and then use cutting-edge equipment, including the TearLab® Osmolarity System and InflammaDry® test to diagnose your dry eyes and find its cause.
What is the treatment for dry eyes?
Eye Treatment Center offers a variety of dry eye treatments, and the providers personalize your care. First, treating any underlying systemic conditions is important. If your dry eye syndrome is related to controllable environmental factors, a few lifestyle changes like reducing screen use or changing your contacts can help.
Artificial tears are often effective for dry eyes, and your providers may also recommend other measures like a regular eyelid cleaning routine. You may also need prescription eye drops to alleviate inflammation and boost your natural tear production.
The oil glands in your eyelids also play an important role in the quality of the tear film, and your doctor may recommend a daily regimen to improve the quality of the tears or manual expression of the oil glands. If your dry eyes persist, your Eye Treatment Center specialist may recommend punctal plugs. These tiny inserts sit inside your tear ducts to prevent tear loss and keep your eyes moisturized.
If you have severe dry eye syndrome that causes vision and eye health issues, it might not respond to conservative care. In that case, your Eye Treatment Center specialist may recommend a surgical procedure to close your tear ducts.
As an accredited dry eye center staffed by board-certified doctors, Eye Treatment Center is your leading resource for dry eye diagnosis and care. Call the office or book your appointment online anytime.
