Dry Eye Clinic
Dry Eye Syndrome is a very common and often under diagnosed eye problem. It can make one very uncomfortable and negatively affect one's quality of vision.
When tears do not adequately lubricate the eye, a person may experience:
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Pain
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Light sensitivity
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A gritty sensation
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A feeling of a foreign body or sand in the eye
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Itching
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Redness
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Blurring of vision
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Excessive tearing (This may seem confusing, but when the tears are not adequately lubricating the eye, the nervous system sends messages to the glands to produce more and more tears.)
Dry eyes may be caused by a variety of reasons including:
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Aging and hormonal changes
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Medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, or accutane
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Diseases that affect the ability to produce tears such as Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune diseases.
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Structural problems with the eyelids that don't allow them to close properly.
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Environmental factors such as excessive time on the computer and poor air quality.
Dr. Kotecha will perform a thorough eye exam on you and evaluate your tear film. She may also perform testing to measure your tear production.
After this a variety of treatment options may be prescribed including:
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Topical lubricating drops and ointments
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Good eyelid hygiene or special eye cleaning wipes
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Anti-inflammatory or steroid drops
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Restasis (cyclosporine)
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Prescription allergy eye drops
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Punctal occlusion (this may be temporary or permanent and may be done via punctal plugs or cautery)
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Nutritional supplements such as omega-3 oils
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Environmental modifications
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Correction of structural eyelid problems
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Prokera: amniotic membrane tissue used to treat severe dry eyes
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Serum tears - a natural and innovative way to treat many dry eye patients.
