Dry Eye Treatment in Lake Havasu City
At Lake Havasu Family Eyecare, our experienced optometrists use advanced technology and treatment methods to help diagnose, treat, and even prevent dry eye, helping you see the world clearly and comfortably. No one should have to experience red, watery eyes, eye fatigue, or blurry vision caused by Dry Eye Syndrome.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Millions of people are affected by dry eye syndrome every year, but many people are unaware of the symptoms. Dry eye occurs when the tear production on the eye is unbalanced. There are three layers to the tears: mucin, aqueous and oil layer. When one of the layers are not produced properly, you may experience redness, watering, itching, a gritty or “foreign body” sensation, dryness, or blurred vision.
Causes of Dry Eye
Tears are very complex, to the point where a tiny change in their quantity or quality can lead to dry eyes. Overproducing tears that evaporate too quickly or failing to produce healthy oil to lubricate your eyes, can stem from a variety of causes including your lifestyle, the environment where you live, and your family history.
Other causes of dry eye include:
- Aging
- History of smoking
- Medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, birth control, etc.)
- Damaged tear glands or oil glands.
- Chronic medical conditions (Diabetes, Lupus, and Thyroid Disease)
- Dry or windy environments
Dry Eye Signs and Symptoms
- Redness
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Excessive watering
- Burning or stinging
- Foreign body sensation
- Itching
While these symptoms can range from mild to severe, when untreated, dry eye can also lead to complications like infections, damage to the surface of the eye, and vision changes.
Dry Eye Evaluations
At Lake Havasu Family Eyecare, we take pride in our advanced technology, offering our patients the most up-to-date evaluations. Our doctors use several methods of assessing whether or not you’re suffering from dry eye, and if you are, finding out the cause.
One type of screening uses the LipiView® Meibographer, which takes an image of the meibomian gland structure in your lower eye lid. These glands produce the oil layer to your tears.
The second screening is the LipiView® Tear Analyzer, which takes a measurement of the oil produced by the meibomian glands. Using this information, we can provide you with a dry eye diagnosis and detailed treatment plan.
Lake Havasu City Dry Eye Treatment
Dry eye treatments usually fall into two classifications: surface treatment and underlying treatment.
Surface treatments focus on replenishing your tears. Our doctors at Lake Havasu Family Eyecare can prescribe you with special, artificial tear eye drops that will refresh and soothe your eyes, compensating for the lack of tears your eyes produce on their own.
If your dry eye is caused by an underlying health issue, such as a chronic condition or your tears draining away from your eyes too quickly, we may recommend tear support supplements, closing your tear ducts, or helping to improve your tear quality by treating any blocked tear ducts.
Dry Eye Prevention
Lifestyle changes you can make at home to prevent dry eye syndrome include:
- Artificial tears during the day
- Hot compresses
- Lid hygiene; removing makeup daily
- Omega 3s
- Staying hydrated
- Sleep mask at night
- Sunglasses to avoid exposure to wind
- Take breaks while using electronic devices
- Blink exercises
Western Arizona Dry Eye Care
Dry Eye can be painful and irritating, but we’re proud to say that at Lake Havasu Family Eyecare, our expert optometrists and cutting-edge treatments can help prevent or manage your dry eye.
To learn more or find an effective treatment for your dry eyes, call our office today at (928) 264-8951.
