Dry Eye Treatment Specialist
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ModernEyes Ophthalmology
Ophthalmologists located in Levittown, NY
Dry eye may begin as a minor irritation, but when it persists, it can cause serious problems such as damage to the cornea, corneal ulcers, and vision problems. Effective dry eye treatment provided by Dr. Perry Mollick and Dr. Andrew Greenberg at ModernEyes Ophthalmology can alleviate your symptoms and protect long-term eye health. If you have dry eye, call their office in Levittown, New York, or schedule an appointment online for an eye exam and dry eye treatment.
Dry Eye Treatment Q & A
What is dry eye?
Dry eye develops when your eyes don’t produce a sufficient amount of natural tears or when there’s something wrong with the tears being synthesized. Any issue with tears creates problems because they lubricate your eyes, help focus light for proper vision, flush out dirt, and contain ingredients that maintain eye health.
Inadequate amount of tears
Tear production can be diminished by age, health conditions, and medications. Your tears may also evaporate too quickly in windy and dry climates.
Poor quality tears
Tears contain three separate layers made of oil, water and mucus. The right amount of each component is needed to protect your eyes.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
Your eyes feel dry and irritated, making it hard to use electronics and difficult to wear contact lenses. You may also experience:
- Stinging or burning eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Feeling like something is in your eye
- Red, irritated eyes
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Excessive tearing after a period of severe dry eyes
- Discharge from your eyes
What health conditions and medications cause dry eye?
Diverse health conditions are known to cause dry eyes, including:
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Thyroid disorders
- Lupus
- Rosacea
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Blepharitis
Dry eye is also a side effect of many different medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications.
What types of dry eye treatment are available?
When you go to ModernEyes Ophthalmology for dry eyes, your doctor evaluates your medical history, reviews all your medications, and assesses other factors that could cause the problem, because underlying health conditions must be treated along with direct treatment for your eyes.
Your dry eye treatment plan may include any of the following options:
Medications
Artificial tears may provide symptom relief. You may also need prescription medications to treat inflammation and to increase tear production.
Surgical options
Your doctor at ModernEyes Ophthalmology may insert specialized punctal plugs into your tear ducts to partially or completely stop tears from draining out of your eyes. Punctal plugs can be made of a substance that’s gradually absorbed back into your body, or they may consist of silicone, which can be removed when your condition improves.
Lifestyle adjustments
Your doctor at ModernEyes Ophthalmology helps you identify lifestyle elements that contribute to dry eyes and recommends adjustments you can make to improve your symptoms. For example, simply taking a periodic break from screen time goes a long way toward alleviating symptoms.
