Dry Eyes

If your eyes are often irritated and itchy, you may have a condition known as dry eyes. To moisturize and protect your eyes from damage, VistaSite Vision Center offers comprehensive care for dry eyes. Tatsiana Palavets, OD, provides complete eye exams to evaluate your eye health. Tear testing is also available to assess the quality of your tears and recommendations for artificial tears and other strategies to lubricate your eyes and clear your vision. If you need help managing dry eyes, call the office in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, or book an appointment online today.

What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes is a common eye condition that causes persistent eye irritation and redness. The condition develops when your body doesn’t produce enough tears to lubricate your eyes or if the tears you make aren’t high quality.

Without sufficient lubrication, your eyes become dry and itchy. Your vision may also be less clear.

Aging is a common cause of dry eyes. Other potential reasons you may develop dry eyes include:

• Eye allergies
• Tear duct damage
• Laser eye surgery
• Exposure to environmental irritants (e.g., smoke, chemicals, wind)
• Use of certain medications

If you have underlying health conditions like diabetes or a thyroid disorder, you might also be at an increased risk for dry eyes.

When should I seek treatment for dry eyes?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at VistaSite Vision Center if you have persistent dry eyes that interfere with your quality of life. You also need a consultation if you experience symptoms like:

• Redness
• Itching
• Irritation
• Burning
• Blurred vision
• Gritty feeling in the eyes
• Increased sensitivity to light

The optometry specialists provide comprehensive eye exams to assess your condition. They can also test the quality of your tears with a simple in-office test. Your provider places a special strip of paper under your lower eyelids and measures how much moisture it collects.

How are dry eyes treated?

Your treatment plan for dry eyes depends on the severity of your symptoms. Many people find relief from eye redness and irritation using over-the-counter artificial tears to increase moisture in the eyes. If you need a stronger eye drop, your VistaSite Vision Center provider can prescribe one.

You may need to make lifestyle changes to protect your eyes from wind, smoke, and other environmental irritants. If you work around chemicals, you may need to wear goggles.

Other treatment strategies for dry eyes include a procedure to close your tear ducts to prevent tear loss. Your provider can refer you to a specialist for surgical care.

If wearing contacts is uncomfortable because of persistent dryness, your provider can recommend special lenses for dry eyes.

Call VistaSite Vision Center to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of dry eyes, or book an appointment online today.