Dry Eye Treatment
Find relief from dry, itchy, irritated eyes.
Dry eyes affect millions of people in the United States. It is estimated that as many as 4.88 million Americans over the age of 50 suffer from this uncomfortable condition.
Dry Eyes is one of Lifetime Optometric‘s specialties. Dr. Recalde and her staff use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and manage dry eyes. If you need help, book an appointment at Lifetime Optometric. We’ll help you find a treatment option that brings you the relief you’re searching for.
What are the common symptoms of dry eye?
Everyone experiences dry eyes differently because there are so many potential underlying causes.
Typical symptoms include:
- Redness or eyes that appear irritated and bloodshot
- Consistent burning or tingling sensations in the eyes
- Eyes that feel itchy or as if they have something in them
- Increased sensitivity to bright lights or sunlight
- Excessive tearing, or eyes that always appear watery
- Vision that changes throughout the day
What causes dry eye?
There are many potential causes of dry eye.
In some cases, the cause is obvious, such as environmental irritants or short-term inflammation.
Some of the other causes of chronic dry eye problems include:
- Disease of the meibomian glands
- Blepharitis
- Allergies
- Defects that affect the eyelid or shape of the eye
- Certain medications
- Deficiency of aqueous fluids
- Various health conditions such as Sjogren’s Syndrome, diabetes, lupus, thyroid issues, and rheumatoid arthritis
Because 1 out of 10 dry eye patients may have an underlying autoimmune disease, Dr. Recalde may order the Sjö test, a simple blood test that is done at a local laboratory.
The underlying causes of dry eyes may vary. Therefore, treatment methods after diagnosis will also vary according to the patient. It is also common for there to be more than one cause for dry eye.
How is dry eye diagnosed and treated?
With a detailed history and a thorough slit lamp examination, we can diagnose and provide a wide range of treatments for dry eyes.
Some of the typical treatments include:
- Prescription eye drops to combat inflammation: Many new medications have been recently FDA-approved for dry eyes.
- Nutritional supplements such as HydroEye that provides key support for long term management of dry eyes.
- Punctal Plugs: Plugs are inserted into your tear drainage hole to save your tears in your eyes longer.
- Moisture Goggles: Lifetime Optometric offers special eyewear to help block wind, dust, and other environmental triggers for dry eyes.
Learn More: Guide to Dry Eyes
State of the art technology and advanced treatment options:
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- Oculus Keratograph: Majority of dry eye patients show signs of damaged meibomian glands but it can only be detected with special imaging technology such as the Oculus Keratograph. This advanced tool will image the tear glands in the eyelids (called meibomian glands) and will help determine if there are enough glands to produce healthy tears.
- Amniotic Membrane: This procedure involves applying a biologic corneal bandage which will nourish and rejuvenate the ocular surface.
- Lipiflow: Lifetime Optometric was the first office in Central California to launch Lipiflow, a FDA-approved device that warms the eyelids and gently massages the meibomian glands. These tear glands are often obstructed in patients with chronic dry eyes.
- Learn More About Lipiflow.
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- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy: Lifetime Optometric is the first and only office in Central California to offer Optilight by Lumenis, the only FDA-approved IPL treatment for dry eyes. This cutting-edge technology delivers pulses of light to restore the function of the meibomian glands.
- Learn More About IPL
Dry eyes are not only uncomfortable — they can also be bad for the health of your eyes. Book an appointment at Lifetime Optometric to find relief.