Dry Eyes

Approximately 35 million Americans have dry eyes today. At Vistasite Optique in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York, Vladimir Dvoretsky, OD, understands that dry eyes are uncomfortable, itchy, sore, and very difficult to live with. She prescribes eye care plans that improve eye moisture and improve your quality of life. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to receive a dry eye evaluation and treatment.

What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes are one of the most common chronic eye problems among Americans today. When you have dry eyes, you don’t make enough quality tears. Your tears create a film that covers your eyes when you blink to keep your eyes comfortably lubricated. 

Healthy tears are a balance of water, oils, and mucus. Even if you produce lots of tears, you can still get dry eyes if those components aren’t balanced. 

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?

Dry eyes, sometimes called dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome, cause not only lubrication problems, but also issues such as: 

• Red eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Scratchy-feeling eyes
• Eye soreness
• Stringy mucus around the eyes

The condition can also cause eye watering and tearing in response to the irritation. However, those tears are poor quality and evaporate before they can lubricate your eyes.

Untreated, dry eyes can lead to serious eye problems. For example, you could develop scratches on the surface of your eye (corneal abrasions) that later lead to corneal ulcers or even vision loss. Fortunately, these issues are preventable if you seek early diagnosis at Vistasite Optique. 

How are dry eyes diagnosed?

Your Vistasite Optique optometrist performs a comprehensive eye exam and evaluates all of your symptoms. They’ll review your medical history and discuss lifestyle factors to help determine the cause for your dry eyes. 

You might need special tests that evaluate your tear production, composition, or how fast you make tears. After any necessary testing, your optometrist can diagnose dry eyes and create a treatment plan that works for you. 

How are dry eyes treated? 

There are several treatments for dry eyes, such as:

• Lubricating eye drops
• Anti-inflammatory eye drops 
• Eyelid massage to open blocked oil glands
• Warm eye compresses
• Gentle eyelid cleansers
• Punctal plugs: tiny inserts that plug tear ducts and prevent tear loss 

If you wear contact lenses, your Vistasite Optique provider may suggest special types of lenses that help keep your eyes moist. 

Your optometrist can also suggest tips to prevent recurrent dry eyes, such as avoiding hair dryer use, wearing wrap-around sunglasses outdoors, and avoiding very warm rooms. Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet may also help preserve eye moisture and prevent dry eyes. 

Call Vistasite Optique or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about dry eyes.