Dry or Itchy Eyes

LipiFlow

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry Eye Syndrome is a chronic condition that may be caused by either an inadequate number of tears or low quality tears.

Symptoms Of Dry Eye

Symptoms vary from patient to patient. The most common complaint is dry, red and itchy eyes. Another common symptom, as strange as it sounds, is watery eyes. This is caused from the eye over producing tears are a “reflex” to dry eye syndrome.

Symptoms include:

  • Redness
  • Blurred Vision
  • Pain
  • Itchiness
  • Foreign Body Sensations
  • Blurred Vision
  • Burning
  • Eye Fatigue

How Is Dry Eye Diagnosed?

Because dry eye symptoms are vast, and because the symptoms can be mimicked by many other conditions, e.g. ocular allergies, dry eye can be difficult to diagnose. Eye doctors generally start with a traditional examination. These tests can measure tear production and lipid production are used to determine if patients have evaporative dry eye or aqueous deficient. A few other noninvasive tests may be used, but a history of patient symptoms is always helpful.

Dry Eye Treatment Options

Patients are often able to manage this condition with over the counter eye drops, prescription eye drops, fish oil supplements, warm eye compresses to unclog the meibomian glands (oil producing glands), artificial tears or other treatment options.