Millions of Americans suffer from symptoms of dry eyes. This condition occurs when people do not produce enough tears or when the tears that are produced are not of the proper quality to keep the
eye lubricated and comfortable. The symptoms of dry eye include: stinging or burning eyes, itchiness around the eyes, eye irritation from smoke or wind, excess tearing, and difficulty wearing contact lenses.
To keep your eyes healthy, you need to have tears to provide moisture and lubrication. This is not only for your comfort, but it helps with your vision. Tears are secreted by glands around your eyes. When you do not make enough tears, you have a condition called dry eyes.
There is no cure for dry eye. Instead, we have ways to make you more comfortable. There is a product called artificial tears. This comes in drops and ointments. Depending on your needs, one may work better for you.
We also perform temporary and non-dissolving punctal plugs. These are used to close the ducts that help with the overflow of tears. If you stop the tears from draining out of your eye, you will have more tears in your eyes. We start with a temporary one to see if it is going to help before trying a more permanent arrangement.
If necessary, we may also prescribe a medication for chronic dry eyes. We may also talk to you about other medications and your nutrition. Many supplements have been helpful for patients with dry eye.