Dry Eye - Spinak Medical Eye Center

"Dry Eye" occurs when the cornea is not kept well lubricated by tears and the eye becomes irritated and sensitive.

There are many causes of Dry Eye, including:

• aging
• arthritis
• pregnancy
• menopause
• exposure to irritants such as smoke, smog and aerosols.

Many common prescription and over-the-counter drugs can also cause Dry Eye. Some studies have found that a deficiency of Vitamin A may trigger the condition.

 

Dry Eye can interfere with normal vision and make it difficult to wear contact lenses.

 

When Dry Eye is caused by a change in the chemistry of natural tears, the result is often uncontrolled tearing.

Symptoms of Dry Eye may include:

• Redness
• Dry, gritty-feeling or sticky eyes
• Too few or too many tears
• Trouble wearing contact lenses
• Hay fever or sinus problems
• Recurring eye infections

The first step is a complete eye exam. The board certified ophthalmologists at the Spinak Medical Eye Center carefully check the eye for other conditions or disease before treating Dry Eye.

 

For the treatment of dry eye, there are a number of medical options now available to patients. The first line of treatment is with lubricants such as artificial tears and ointments. Prescription medications such as Restatsis may be needed for more severe cases.

 

Another way to treat dry eye is to increase the amount of tears which stay on the surface of the eye. This can be accomplished by placing a temporary implant into the tiny drainage holes in the inner, lower corner of the eye. These restrict the flow of tears out of the eye. If the symptoms of Dry Eye are relieved with these temporary plugs, permanent punctum plugs or other restriction method may be recommended.