Dry Eye Disease And Treatment
Dry Eye Treatment In Houston And Pasadena, Texas
Dry eye occurs when you don't produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears. Our eye care professionals can help.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Syndrome, referred to as DES, is a chronic eye condition that occurs when the eyes produce an insufficient amount of tears or when the tears lack the essential balance of elements to lubricate the eye’s surface. A well-lubricated eye blocks foreign bodies or substances from irritating the eye’s surface.
our optometric team treats patients from all over Houston and Pasadena, helping them achieve long-lasting relief from dry eye syndrome.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye can result due to a number of factors, including genetics, environment, the natural aging process, or prescription medications, to name a few.
Hormonal changes are a common cause of dry eye. In fact, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking oral contraceptives, or experiencing menopause tend to experience the uncomfortable symptoms that accompany dry eye syndrome. Women over the age of 50 have double the risk of developing DES than men of the same age.
Eye Exams for Children & Young Adults
Patients with DES experience a number of symptoms that can disrupt their daily activities or cause chronic pain.
The most common signs of DES include the following:
- Blurriness
- Burning
- Dryness
- Feeling as if something is in your eye
- Irritation
- Itchy eyes
- Pain
- Red eyes
- Stinging
- Watery eyes
Those who suffer from DES often try to alleviate the pain by blinking either less or more often, rubbing their eyes, or by using over-the-counter artificial tears.
Why is blinking important? Blinking naturally moisturizes the eyes and gets rid of tiny particles that may enter the eye. Reduced blinking can increase dryness, itching, or redness, making DES symptoms even more acute.
Rubbing your eyes, especially when they’re already irritated, can intensify your symptoms. This is because the added pressure can make the pain worse. Moreover, if your hands aren’t 100% clean, you can unintentionally spread germs or bacteria into your eyes when you rub them. Rubbing the eyes can also cause tiny blood vessels to break, increasing the redness of your eyes.
Artificial tears provide temporary relief by lubricating the eyes with a specific solution. These can be quite effective at alleviating soreness and itchiness, however, excessive use isn’t recommended. Many brands include preservatives, which aren’t good for your health in the long term. Other preservative-free brands can, over time, fail to relieve the basic dry eye symptoms. Patients may find that having to continuously purchase artificial tears can become costly, and consistently using them throughout the day disrupts their daily activities.
Dry Eye Treatments
DES is typically treated with medicated eye drops, anti-inflammatory drops, or a heated compress. Occasionally, the eye doctor may recommend punctal plugs.
These are tiny devices that when inserted into the eye’s tear duct, block any drainage. This can alleviate DES symptoms by preventing moisture from draining out of the eye, ensuring that they stay inside the tear duct area. This increases the moisture level and provides longer-term relief.
Moreover, punctal plugs are not permanent and can be easily removed or replaced, making them a simple, affordable solution to alleviate symptoms.
Dry Eye Technology
Advancements in medical technology and scientific breakthroughs have made treatment for dry eye easier, offering quicker results and longer-lasting benefits. Some of the latest technologies for DES treatment include InflammaDry, LipiFlow, and TearLab.
Optical Illusionz has some of the most cutting-edge and advanced technologies to quickly and effectively test for Dry Eye Syndrome. Let our optometric team and the talented, experienced staff help get you started on the path to real long-term relief from dry eye.
InflammaDry
Our tears contain a natural protein enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase-9, or MMP-9. Patients with Dry Eye usually have elevated levels of this protein.
The InflammaDry system measures MMP-9 levels by analyzing the tears taken from inside the lower eyelid. The entire process is fast and results are received in about 10 minutes. The disposable test is performed in the office, making it a top choice for eye doctors and DES patients.
LipiFlow
Meibomian glands are located by the eyelashes, towards the edge of the eyelid. These glands secrete oils, which lubricate the eye and keep your tears moist. When the glands become blocked, dry eye develops.
The LipiFlow system takes detailed images of the tear film, helping the eye doctor determine whether you have MGD. Then, a combination of gentle heat and light pressure is applied on both the inside and outside of the eyelid, removing the blockage and stimulating your eye’s natural moisture. The procedure takes around 12 minutes to administer and is done at the practice.
TearLab
The TearLab device measures concentration levels in human tears. This helps diagnose DES by noting any levels of tear concentration that are elevated, which signal dry eye.
TearLab is a 3-in-1 device: the test card, test pen, and countertop unit. The test card is a single-use microchip that collects a tiny sample of tear fluid in under 30 seconds. It sits inside the test pen, which analyzes and sends the data to the reader, located in the unit. The unit rests on a flat surface and displays the test results within seconds.
Fall Eye Allergies & Winter Dry Eyes
Optical Illusionz - Eye Doctor in Houston and Pasadena, Texas. See an eye doctor determine the cause of your dry eye condition. Call 713-664-2015 to schedule your eye exam.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye disease can develop as a result of several factors, such as age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, medications, and overall ocular health.
Why Dry Eye Affects More Women Than Men
Women are susceptible to developing Dry Eye Syndrome due to lifestyle choices (such as makeup use) and hormonal changes that occur over a lifetime. Post-menopausal women can further increase their chances when using hormonal replacement therapy.
Finding Relief for Dry Eye
Evaporative dry eye and aqueous deficient dry eye both harm the quality and quantity of the tears our eyes rely on for hydration and comfort. The causes and symptoms of dry eye are wide-ranging, but solutions are at hand.
Eye Allergies: What They Are and How To Treat Them
Many things may cause an allergic reaction. At Optical Illusionz in Houston and Pasadena our eye care professionals provide effective eye allergy treatments. Call for an appointment - 713-664-2015.
Are Your Contact Lenses Causing Dry Eye?
Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk of developing dry eye. Whether your contact lens is blocking oxygen from entering the eye, or the tear film breaks up, causing the contact lens to irritate the surface of the eye, you can get relief. Read on to learn more about contact lens-induced dry eye and to prevent and treat it.
4 Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes on Your Next Flight!
Is flying tough on your eyes? Our eye doctors give over their top 4 best tips for how to prevent dry eyes on the way to your next vacation destination!
Contact Lens Discomfort & Dry Eyes
Do your eyes become irritated and itchy when you wear contacts? Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time can also cause dry eyes.
When Children Suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome
Although the condition is rarer in kids, it is just as painful and irritating for our younger patients.
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