Dry eye disease is one of the most prevalent and underdiagnosed conditions in eye care, affecting tens of millions of Americans. It occurs when the eyes don't produce enough tears, or when the tears evaporate too quickly due to poor tear film quality. The result is chronic irritation, burning, foreign body sensation, fluctuating vision, and paradoxically, excessive tearing. Left unmanaged, dry eye can progressively worsen and significantly reduce quality of life.

Types of Dry Eye

  • Aqueous deficient dry eye — The lacrimal glands don't produce sufficient tear volume. Less common, but associated with autoimmune conditions like Sjögren's syndrome.
  • Evaporative dry eye — By far the most common type, caused by dysfunction of the meibomian glands — the oil-secreting glands along the eyelid margins. Without adequate oil, tears evaporate rapidly, leaving the ocular surface exposed.
  • Mixed dry eye — Most patients have components of both deficiency types.

Diagnostic Testing

Proper treatment begins with proper diagnosis. Our dry eye evaluation includes tear film assessment (TBUT, Schirmer's test), meibomian gland evaluation, osmolarity testing, and inflammatory biomarker testing to identify the underlying cause and severity.

Treatment Options

  • Artificial tears and lubricating drops — For mild symptoms; preservative-free formulations recommended for frequent use
  • Warm compresses and lid hygiene — Daily warm compress therapy softens meibomian gland secretions; specialized lid cleansers remove biofilm and Demodex
  • Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation — Reduces inflammation and supports meibomian gland function
  • Prescription anti-inflammatory drops — Cyclosporine (Restasis, Cequa) and lifitegrast (Xiidra) address the underlying inflammation driving chronic dry eye
  • Punctal plugs — Small silicone inserts placed in the tear drainage ducts to increase tear retention on the ocular surface
  • In-office meibomian gland treatments — Thermal pulsation therapy (LipiFlow) and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy target the root cause of evaporative dry eye
  • Scleral contact lenses — For severe cases, scleral lenses maintain a constant fluid reservoir over the cornea, providing continuous hydration independent of tear production

Dry eye is a chronic condition, but with the right treatment plan, most patients achieve significant, lasting relief. Contact us to schedule a comprehensive dry eye evaluation and start your path to lasting comfort.