Dry Eyes

Ypsilanti Vision Our Services Dry Eyes
Ypsilanti Vision - - Optometrist

Ypsilanti Vision

Optometrists located in Ypsilanti, MI

If you’re one of the more than 16 million adults with dry eyes, you already know that over-the-counter remedies just don’t offer the relief you need. At Ypsilanti Vision in Ypsilanti, Michigan, skilled optometrist Tiffany Zair-Yalda, OD, and the dedicated eye care team offer diagnosis and treatment for dry eyes using the latest proven solutions. Call the office or book your appointment using online scheduling.

Dry Eyes Q & A

What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes mean that you don’t produce enough quality eye lubricants to keep your eyes healthy. Normally, your eyes have a tear film, a combination of water, mucus, and oils that lightly coats your corneas. 

When you have dry eyes, your tear film has too much water and too little mucus and oil. This leads to quicker-than-normal evaporation, making your eyes dry and uncomfortable. 

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?

Dry-feeling eyes are the obvious symptom, but other eye problems are common, including:

  • Redness
  • Scratchy feeling 
  • Feeling that there’s something stuck in your eye
  • Light sensitivity
  • Stinging or burning
  • Strings of dried mucus 
  • Blurry vision

Excessive eye watering is also common with dry eyes. Watery eyes are a reflex attempt to create lubrication. But since those tears are just water, they evaporate almost immediately.

How are dry eyes diagnosed?

Ypsilanti Vision can review your eye health history and symptoms to form a preliminary dry eyes diagnosis. The team performs a comprehensive eye exam, during which they can identify eye problems that may cause, contribute to, or result from dry eyes. 

The team can perform various dry eyes tests, including:

  • Eyelid structure
  • Blink dynamics
  • Tear production
  • Tear flow 
  • Tear makeup (tear quality) 

These tests can help your provider make a diagnosis and may also help guide treatment according to the cause of your dry eyes.

How do you treat dry eyes?

There are a few different ways to relieve dry eye symptoms. Generally, treatment focuses on:

Adding tears 

If you have mild dry eyes, your optometrist may recommend artificial tear solutions to lubricate your eyes and decrease irritation.

Boosting tear production

Your Ypsilanti Vision optometrist may prescribe eye drops that help you make more tears naturally. 

Decreasing inflammation

Dry eyes often cause additional inflammation on the ocular surface, and sometimes in the eyelids. Your eye doctor can prescribe either eye drops or topical ointments to relieve that irritation and discomfort. 

Dry eyes usually respond well to artificial tears or prescription eye drops. Your Ypsilanti Vision optometrist can give you samples so you can see how these treatments could work for you. 

If you have severe dry eyes, your eye doctor may recommend other options, like punctal plugs that help you retain tears. 

Book your appointment at Ypsilanti Vision with online scheduling or call the office for dry eyes treatment today. 

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