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Dry Eye Treatment

It's important to realize that dry eye is a chronic disease that needs consistent treatment.

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What is Dry Eye Disease (DED)?

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a chronic condition that develops when your eyes do not produce and maintain enough tears to keep the eye’s surface lubricated resulting in multiple symptoms that range from person to person. This can be due to a reduction in tear production or increased tear evaporation from a lack of lipid in the tears that stem from oil glands in the eyelids. The effects can range from minor dryness and discomfort to pain, blurred vision and frequent infections.

Think you might have an issue with dry eyes? Take our assessment here!

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Symptoms Of Dry Eye Disease

Symptoms of dry eye disease can vary depending on the severity of the condition but can include:

Dry, itchy eyes | Burning or stinging | Irritation | Watery eyes | Blurred vision | Pain | Foreign body sensation

The main function of tears is to maintain the health of the cornea of your eye by washing away foreign matter and ensuring that the surface of your eye remains moist, smooth and clear. Tears also rinse away dust particles from your eyes and contain enzymes that protect your eyes from bacteria that can cause infections.

Dry eyes is a condition that develops when the amount of tears produced is not sufficient to maintain the moisture balance in your eye. This can result in that scratchy sensation, a continuous feeling of dryness, stinging and a sensation of a foreign body in your eye. Ironically in an effort to fight off the condition, dry eyes can cause you to produce excessive tears, which is why some people experience watery eyes.

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Diagnosis Of Dry Eye Disease

Typically, dry eye disease can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam and a description of your symptoms. On some occasions, the eye doctor might decide to do a test that measures how quickly your tears evaporate from the surface of your eye.

By instilling a simple dye called fluorescein (much like food coloring) the doctor is able to watch and count how long it takes the tears to start to break up after they’ve asked you to hold your eyes open after a blink. This is called TBUT or a Tear Break Up Time test. A low TBUT generally indicates a lipid (aka oil) deficiency in the tears resulting from oil glands in the eyelids not functioning properly.

In another type of test, called a Schirmer test, a strip of filter paper is placed under the lid of the eye and you will be asked to close your eye for five minutes. Following the test, the amount of moisture on the strip will be measured. Schirmer tests are performed less frequently than a TBUT test.

Tear Film Layers

Dry Eye Or MGD?

The root cause of most dry eye (86%) is now known to be a chronic and progressive condition, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD.

A series of evaluations will be performed to determine if you have MGD. This can include a LipiView® tear film and gland imaging and a meibomian gland evaluation. Knowing what is causing your Dry Eye will help your doctor determine the best treatment option.

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Causes Of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eyes can occur naturally as a result of aging or hormonal changes, typically in women who are pregnant, taking oral contraceptives or going through menopause. In fact, women over 50 have a 50% greater risk of dry eye disease than men do of the same age. It can also result from taking certain medications that reduce tear production such as antihistamines, blood pressure medications and antidepressants.

Environmental factors can also play a role in drying out the eyes and DED is common in areas where the climate is dry, dusty and windy. Home air conditioners or heating systems and excessive time spent staring at a computer or television screen can also dry out eyes and exacerbate symptoms due to the lack of blinking while staring at our screens.

Individuals that suffer from certain medical conditions such as diabetes, blepharitis, lupus, arthritis and thyroid problems are more vulnerable to developing DED. Other causes can be due to eye surgery including LASIK, certain conditions in which the eyelids don’t close properly or extended contact lens use.

New studies regarding the causes and exacerbations of Dry Eye come out frequently. Upon reading a recent study from the Duke Eye Center regarding a potential new pathway to help Dry Eye symptoms, Dr. Fuerst wanted to share it with all EYEcenter Optometric Dry Eye Sufferers. Please click here to read the release from the study.

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Treatment For Dry Eyes

There are many treatment options for dry eyes which are highly dependant upon the cause and severity of the condition. Many mild forms of DED can be alleviated using artificial tears or lubricant eye drops to make up for the lack of natural tears usually produced by your eyes. If over-the-counter drops don’t alleviate your symptoms, your doctor might prescribe prescription drops that actually stimulate tear production or steroids for short-term relief.

More severe cases of dry eyes might be treated with a punctal insert which is a tiny insert containing a slow-release lubricating substance that is placed inside the lower eyelid. Since DED is often related to eyelid inflammation known as blepharitis your doctor may prescribe a heated hot compress mask, specialty eyelid scrubs and sometimes an antibiotic ointment. Finally, punctal plugs might be recommended for severe cases which would be inserted into the tear ducts to reduce the tear drainage in your eyes to keep them from drying out.

If the cause of your dry eyes is something external or environmental, eliminating that cause may solve the problem and resolve the symptoms. Avoid dry environments, hairdryers, heaters and fans, (particularly directed toward the eyes) and smoky environments and wear eye protection such as wraparound glasses or goggles when in dusty or windy areas.

Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry indoor air. If working on the computer or watching television, make sure to blink purposefully as our natural tendency is to reduce our blink rate when staring at a screen. Also, avoid rubbing your eyes as this can further irritate them. Staying hydrated by drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day can also help.

In cases where discontinuation or switching to different medications is possible this can eradicate symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend that you limit or refrain from contact lens use for a certain amount of time or switch to a different brand or type of contact lens which will reduce dehydration.

Dry eye disease won't have a permanent effect on your vision, but there is no reason to endure dry, itchy and uncomfortable eyes, especially since there are so many treatment options to increase moisture and comfort. It’s also important to realize that this is a chronic disease that needs consistent treatment. Your doctor will work with you to create a long term strategy to keep your eyes as comfortable as possible.

TrueTear, Natural Relief From Dry Eye Symptoms

We at EYEcenter Optometric now offer TrueTear, a method of temporarily inducing your own tears, your own shutterstock 557676079natural lubricant, to which has proven to be an effective way to temporarily solve the irritation caused by Dry Eye Disease. TrueTear is very easy to self-administer by sending tiny pulses of energy (neurostimulation) to activate your tear ducts. The pulses stimulate a natural response in your brain which sends a nerve signal to your tear glands immediately surrounding your eyes, which will reach by temporarily producing tears. The TrueTear device is portable, rechargeable, and easy to use. The TrueTear device links with its own app to track your usage. Some people report a mild tingling or tickling sensation, which may vary depending on the intensity with which TrueTear is being applied. We at EYEcenter Optometric now offer TrueTear, a method of temporarily inducing your own tears, your own natural lubricant, to which has proven to be an effective way to temporarily solve the irritation caused by Dry Eye Disease. TrueTear is very easy to self-administer by sending tiny pulses of energy (neurostimulation) to activate your tear ducts. The pulses stimulate a natural response in your brain which sends a nerve signal to your tear glands immediately surrounding your eyes, which will reach by temporarily producing tears. The TrueTear device is portable, rechargeable, and easy to use. The TrueTear device links with its own app to track your usage. Some people report a mild tingling or tickling sensation, which may vary depending on the intensity with which TrueTear is being applied. Drop by one of EYEcenter Optometric’s four convenient locations today to determine whether you are a good candidate to seek relief from dry eye disease through TrueTear.

Office Hours & Locations

EYEcenter Optometric

421 Blue Ravine Rd Ste 300
Folsom, CA 95630
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Closed
  • Closed

EYEcenter Optometric

6809 Five Star Blvd # 100A
Rocklin, CA 95677
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Closed

EYEcenter Optometric

2200 Sunrise Blvd Ste 120
Gold River, CA 95670
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Closed
  • Closed

EYEcenter Optometric

5959 Greenback Ln Suite 120 & 130
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Closed

EYEcenter Optometric

2831 J St
Sacramento, CA 95816
  • 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Closed
  • Closed

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