Dry Eyes

Jeffrey F. Wilson, O.D.

Optometrist located in Remus, MI

Dry eyes affect 10-30% of adults, causing eye irritation and often temporarily affecting their vision. Dr. Wilson has extensive experience helping patients with dry eyes, determining the cause of the problem and providing effective and innovative treatment options. Chronic dry eye can lead to inflammation and problems with your cornea, so don’t wait to seek treatment: Schedule an appointment by using online booking or calling the office in Remus, Michigan.

989-967-8668

Dry Eyes Q & A

What is dry eye?

Blinking spreads a thin film of tears over your eyes. The tear film lubricates and nourishes your eyes and helps remove dirt. Dry eye occurs when you have one of these problems with your tears:

Inadequate amount

When tear glands don’t produce a sufficient amount or when tears evaporate too quickly, you don’t have enough tear film to protect your eye.

Poor quality

Tears must contain a specific amount of three layers to lubricate and nourish your eyes. The outer layer contains oil that prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. The middle layer consists of water that carries nourishment, while the third layer contains mucus that spreads the tear film across your eyes.

What causes dry eye?

Dry eyes arise from several causes, but some of the most common include:

Eye conditions

Tears lack oil when oil-producing glands are blocked. Lack of oil is one of the most common causes of dry eye. Inflammatory eye problems like uveitis and blepharitis can also lead to dry eye.

Medical conditions

Allergies, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause dry eye.

Medications

Many different medications cause dry eye, including antihistamines, decongestants, and medications to lower blood pressure.

Screen time

You don’t blink as often when you watch TV or spend time looking at a computer monitor. As a result, your tear film isn’t refreshed frequently enough to protect your eyes.

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?

Dry eyes produce an unexpected symptom: excessive tearing and watery eyes. This happens when irritated eyes trigger your brain to release extra tears to relieve the irritation.

Besides watering eyes, you may experience symptoms such as:

Itching
Burning or stinging
Redness
Light sensitivity
Eye fatigue
Blurry vision
Gritty or scratchy feeling
Feeling like something is in your eye

How is dry eye treated?

After determining the cause of your dry eyes, Dr. Wilson may recommend one of the following:

Adding tears with preservative-free artificial tears
Increasing tear production using prescription eye drops
Treating underlying conditions
Conserving tears by temporarily plugging drainage ducts

Dr. Wilson also offers advanced treatment in the form of amniotic membranes. The thin membrane is easily placed over your eyes in the office, and it naturally dissolves in about one week. Amniotic membranes protect the eye’s surface, promote healing, and relieve irritation and blurry vision.

Dry eyes don’t heal on their own, so don’t wait to get help. Call Dr. Wilson or book an appointment online.

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