Dry Eye Exam & Treatment
Do You Have Dry Eye?
Foreign body sensation is the hallmark sign of dry eye and leads people to think they actually have something in their eye. Many times, there isn’t actually anything in your eye at all. If your tear film doesn’t adequately cover the surface of your eye, it will create this feeling.
Your eye has three components that make up your tear film. The top layer of your tear film is made of an oil your body naturally produces. This oil layer is meant to hold your tears in your eye so they don’t stream down your face on a cold and windy day.
Dry eyes can be the number one reason people drop out of contact lens wear. With proper dry eye treatment, your comfort with contact lenses can be extended by treating the underlying cause of dryness. Our eye doctor can also recommend the best contacts for dry eyes to keep your eyes healthy and comfortable throughout the day.
When your eyes burn, your tear film is inconsistent on the surface of your eye. This can be multifactorial and take weeks to resolve. Itchy eyes are usually a sign of allergies and not solely dry eyes.
First line therapy for most patients is to put a moisturizing drop or lubricating drop into the eye four times daily. If this is not enough, there are other options our doctors may discuss with you to recommend the best eye drops for dry eyes, including prescription medications.
Comprehensive Dry Eye Assessment and Treatment
Getting a dry eye exam is vital, especially if you’ve noticed your eyes don’t produce enough tears or if your tears evaporate quickly. The tear film on the eye’s surface plays a crucial role in maintaining clarity and comfort.
Eyelid inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, and issues with the lower eyelids can lead to dry eyes. We utilize advanced tools to check the health of your meibomian glands and ensure your tears have the right balance of water, oil, and mucus.
What Your Dry Eye Exam
Will Look Like
Medical History
Understanding your lifestyle, prescription medicines, and risk factors like contact lens use or exposure to cigarette smoke.
Tear Film Assessment
Evaluating the watery layer and oily layer of tears produced by your tear glands and meibomian glands.
Eye Surface Examination
Utilizing staining patterns to observe any irregularities on the eye’s surface.
Tear Duct Assessment
Ensuring that your tear ducts are not blocked, and tears can freely flow.
Treatment Options For Dry Eye
Artificial Tears: Artificial tears for dry eyes are often the first step in managing dry eye symptoms. Following your exam, the optometrist will recommend the best eye drops for dry eyes, based on your condition.
Warm Compresses: Beneficial for those with meibomian gland dysfunction, warm compresses can help unclog oil glands.
Lifestyle Changes: Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, wearing wraparound sunglasses, or avoiding areas with cigarette smoke can make a huge difference.
Other Treatments: Depending on the underlying cause of your dry eyes, dry eye treatments may include nasal sprays, prescription eye drops, or procedures to close tear ducts.
What our patients say about us
Schedule your dry eye exam today!
Experience relief from dry eye symptoms. Get a thorough dry eye exam in Milwaukee from one of our qualified optometrists and acquire essential insights into managing this eye condition. Early dry eye assessment and treatment can significantly improve your quality of life and prevent symptoms worse from developing. Call or book your appointment today.
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We would love to hear from you
If you are seeking an exam that will tell you more about your eyes than just an eyeglass prescription, then consider making an appointment with us today! We accept new patients and a wide variety of vision and medical insurance plans as well as Care Credit.
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FAQs
What is the best treatment for dry eyes?
The best dry eye treatment depends on the underlying cause of your condition. Many patients find relief from dry eye with artificial tears and warm compresses, while others may need prescription eye drops or anti-inflammatory eye drops to control inflammation and improve symptoms.
What are the best eye drops for dry eyes?
The best eye drops for dry eyes vary based on your specific symptoms. Over the counter artificial tears are effective for mild cases of dry eye, while lubricating eye drops with longer lasting formulas can keep eyes moist for extended periods. For severe dry eye, we may recommend prescription eye drops to address tear production, reduce inflammatory markers, and improve overall tear quality.
How do artificial tears help with dry eye treatment?
Artificial tears work for dry eyes by supplementing your natural tear film to add moisture to the ocular surface. They help when your tear glands and lacrimal glands don’t produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly due to meibomian gland dysfunction. Regular use of artificial tears can provide relief from dry eye symptoms like burning, blurred vision, and foreign body sensation.
What are the best contacts for dry eyes?
The best contacts for dry eyes include daily disposable lenses with high water content, silicone hydrogel materials that allow more oxygen to reach the eye’s surface, and specialized scleral lenses that vault over the cornea to create a reservoir of tears. Our team will perform a comprehensive eye exam to recommend contact lenses that keep your eyes healthy and comfortable, even with dry eye syndrome.
What causes dry eyes all of a sudden?
What causes dry eyes all of a sudden can include environmental factors like air conditioning, wind, or low humidity; changes in prescription medications; hormonal shifts; medical conditions affecting the lacrimal glands; increased computer screen time; or new risk factors like starting contact lens wear. Sudden eyelid inflammation or meibomian gland dysfunction can also cause the oil glands in your upper and lower eyelids to malfunction, leading to rapid tear evaporation and acute dry eye symptoms. A comprehensive eye exam with test measures can identify the cause.
How do meibomian glands affect dry eyes?
Meibomian gland dysfunction occurs when the oil glands in your upper and lower eyelids become blocked or don’t produce enough oil. This leads to poor tear quality and increased tear evaporation. Warm compresses, gentle massage of the eyelids, and proper eyelid hygiene can help restore function to your meibomian glands and reduce dry eye symptoms.
When should I see an eye doctor for dry eye treatment?
You need specialized dry eye treatment if you experience persistent symptoms such as burning, eye irritation, watery eyes, blurred vision, or if over the counter eye drops don’t provide relief. Severe cases may require prescription medications, intense pulsed light therapy, or other advanced treatment options to keep your eyes healthy and prevent damage to the ocular surface.