Dry Eye Examinations

Severe dry eye can affect vision and be very uncomfortable.    A pulse dose of steroid eye drops can be very effective.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye syndrome include:

Another common symptom is something called a foreign body sensation — the feeling that something is in your eye.

And as odd as it may sound, watery eyes also can be a symptom of dry eye syndrome. This is because dryness on the eye’s surface sometimes will cause the over- production of the watery component of your tears as a protective mechanism.

We are finding out that in many cases, inflammation is the underlying cause, so anti-inflammatory eye drops can be very effective.   The lipid component of your tears is lacking, and causes the evaporation of your tears.    Omega 3’s, heat packs, and eyelid sprays are prescribed to help restore the tear lipids.   A proper “blink” is important for tear function, so blink exercises are recommended.   Good nutrition can also play a role! If not treated, dry eye can cause permanent damage to the surface of the eye.Dry eye syndrome also can affect the outcomes of LASIK and cataract surgery.