Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eyes can make you feel like something is stuck in your eye, causing you to itch and rub your eyes constantly. Optometrist Matthew Sisson, OD, and the team at Optic Gallery Sparks in Sparks, Nevada, provide dry eye treatments to keep your eyes lubricated and prevent irritation. Call Optic Gallery Sparks to schedule an appointment if you have symptoms of dry eye today.

What is dry eye?

Dry eye is a condition that arises when your eyes don’t produce enough tears to stay lubricated or the tears they produce are chemically imbalanced. That can cause significant eye irritation, discomfort, or vision issues. 

Some other symptoms you might experience with dry eye are:

• Eye redness
• Excessive watering of the eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Sensation that something is stuck in your eye
• Reduced night vision
• Eye fatigue
• Strings of mucus around your eyes

Some dry eye symptoms are temporary and often based on your environment. However, dry eye can also be a long-term condition requiring treatment. 

What is dry eye treatment?

Dry eye treatment alleviates the symptoms of dry eye based on their underlying cause or causes. The team at Optic Gallery Sparks provides individualized care for dry eye after a detailed evaluation. Your care plan might involve:

Eye drops

Prescription eye drops and nonprescription options, like artificial tears, can lubricate your eyes and alleviate symptoms of dry eye. 

Lifestyle changes

After identifying the cause of your dry eye, you can take steps to alleviate symptoms through lifestyle changes. The team might recommend drinking lots of water, avoiding smoky environments, or limiting screen time. 

Tear duct plugs

Tear duct plugs stop tears from flowing out of your eyes so your eyes can preserve as much moisture as possible. 

Surgery is an option in some cases to tighten your eyelids and help the tears stay in. 

How do I know if I need dry eye treatment?

If your dry eye symptoms don’t resolve within a short time or when you change environments, it’s time to consider dry eye treatment. 

To diagnose dry eye and determine if you need treatment, the team at Optic Gallery Sparks performs a dilated eye exam. They also measure the thickness of your tears and calculate how much lubrication your eyes produce. 

A dilated eye exam involves placing drops in your eyes that widen your pupils. Based on the results of this exam, and your self-reported medical history, the team determines the cause of your dry eyes so they can provide the care you need. 

Common causes of dry eyes include climate or temperature changes, aging, certain medications, and desensitized corneas.