Dry Eye Treatment

Chronic dry eye is a common condition that can cause discomfort and even vision loss. Fortunately, with proper eye care from our ophthalmologists at West Texas Eye Associates in Lubbock, you can get relief from symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Creams and Ointments

Dry eye is a common condition that often goes undetected. It's caused by either insufficient tear production or poor-quality tears, leading to symptoms like itching, burning, and an unpleasant feeling in your eyes.

Moderate to severe cases of dry eye may require our doctors to recommend a gel or ointment. However, they caution that many patients misuse these products by lathering them on their eyes at night and clogging the meibomian glands, leading to worsening chronic dry eye syndrome.

Eye Drops

Your eye doctor may suggest eye drops to help soothe dry, itchy eyes. These over-the-counter products contain humectants, lubricants, and electrolytes like potassium that provide a quick hydration boost and alleviate symptoms.

You may also use prescription eye drops such as Restasis or Xiidra, which are scientifically proven to be effective for treating mild to moderate dry eye. Our ophthalmologists will perform tests and evaluations during your eye exam to identify what's causing your chronic dry eye symptoms. This may include a tear test that uses a drop of yellow dye to demonstrate how quickly your tears dry out.

Medications that Increase Tear Production

Tears provide moisture to your eyes, reduce infection risk, and maintain clear vision. Our team may suggest medications to increase tear production. Additionally, these medications may help control eye inflammation, which may cause dry eye symptoms.

Changing Current Medications

Your doctor may suggest changing medications that contribute to or exacerbate your dry eye symptoms. For instance, if certain medications, such as antihistamines or antidepressants, have a history of drying out the eyes, your doctor might suggest switching to another one.

Temporarily or Permanently Closing Your Tear Ducts

Your eye care specialist may suggest temporarily plugging or permanently sealing your tear ducts to reduce tear production. This can be achieved either with punctal plugs or thermal cautery. Tiny silicone punctal plugs are inserted into the corner of your eyelids' tear drainage ducts to block them and keep your eyes moist for longer.

Punctal plugs come in various sizes and are made of biocompatible materials that won't cause any issues or allergic reactions. Insertion is usually done through a process known as punctal occlusion, which can be done without the need for anesthesia in our eye care office.

Contact West Texas Eye Associates in Lubbock, TX

Do you suffer from chronic dry eye? Call West Texas Eye Associates at (806) 792-5900 to schedule your eye exam with our ophthalmologist team in Lubbock.