Dry Eye Syndrome Treatments in Derry, NH & Surrounding Areas

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that causes uncomfortable symptoms. It can occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly. You may experience dryness, itching, burning, stinging, discomfort, and changes in vision.

At Spindel Eye Associates, we understand how uncomfortable and disruptive these symptoms can be. We offer advanced treatment options for dry eye syndrome in Derry, NH, and the surrounding areas. Call us now to schedule a consultation and exam.

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is a condition that affects your tear film, which is the three layers that protect the surface of your corneas. A stable tear film helps you see clearly and protects your eyes from damage. If the tear film is disrupted, you may have trouble producing tears, or your tears may evaporate too quickly. This can cause burning, itching, watering eyes, and blurred vision.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

You may experience a combination of symptoms when you have dry eye. These symptoms may come and go and may get worse over time:

• The feeling that you have something in your eye that won’t come out
• A gritty, scratchy, or sandy sensation in your eye
• Burning or stinging eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision or changes in your vision
• Excessive eye mucus
• Watery eyes
• Red eyes

Common Dry Eye Causes

Different factors can prevent your tear film from functioning properly. It’s important to visit an eye specialist who has experience in treating dry eye syndrome so that you can find out the underlying cause of your condition. There are three types of dry eye disease:

• Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye – This condition occurs when your eyes can’t produce enough tears. This could be caused by an autoimmune condition or trauma or injury to your eyes.
• Evaporative Dry Eye – This condition occurs when your tears evaporate too quickly. The most common cause is a disruption to the outer layer of your tear film, which protects your tears from drying up. This can occur as a result of a condition called meibomian gland dysfunction.
• Mixed Dry Eye – This condition is a combination of aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye.

Risk Factors for Dry Eye

Dry eye can also be a complication of another medical condition, like diabetes, thyroid eye disease, blepharitis, autoimmune conditions, or Sjogren’s syndrome. Other risk factors for dry eye are:

• Environmental factors, like heat and wind
• Lifestyle factors, like spending long hours at a computer
• Side effects from medications, like allergy medications
• Eye surgeries, like LASIK
• Aging
• Hormonal imbalances like perimenopause or menopause

Advanced Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment Options

There are nearly 30 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome. Our dedicated team at Spindel Eye Associates offers a wide variety of treatment options to help you find relief:

• Artificial Tears – When your tear ducts do not produce enough tears, supplementing them with over-the-counter or prescription-strength artificial tear solution is a quick and easy treatment option.
• Tear Conservation – Dry eyes may be the result of tears evaporating too quickly, so your dry eye doctor may recommend partially or completely closing your tear ducts. This may involve inserting a small silicone plug into one of the tear drainage ducts or permanently closing the duct with a minor surgical procedure.
• Prescription Medications – There are several prescription drugs that can help relieve symptoms of eye diseases, including cholinergics, which increase tear production; antibiotics, which reduce eyelid inflammation; and Restasis, which reduces cornea inflammation.
• LipiFlow – LipiFlow procedure is a pain-free procedure that uses a disposable eye piece to apply controlled heat to the inner eyelid and gentle, intermittent pressure to the outer eyelid, massaging out blockages in the meibomian glands in your eyelids and restoring the naturally flowing oil that prevents tears from evaporating.
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatments – IPL treatment directs bursts of low-level laser light at the lower eyelids and upper cheek areas, which heats up the blocked eyelid glands. After the light treatment is performed, the doctor will gently apply pressure to the meibomian glands to clear out any blockages, allowing the oil to flow out naturally.

Benefits of Treatment for Dry Eye Symptoms

Symptoms of dry eye syndrome can affect every area of your life. When you understand the root cause of your symptoms and get the treatment you deserve, you will enjoy these benefits:

• Relief from eye pain and discomfort
• Improved vision
• Reduced risk of eye damage
• Less irritation and inflammation of the eyes
• Enhanced quality of life
• Protection of the outer surface of the eye
• Reduced risk of infection
• Improved tear quality and tear drainage

Why Choose Spindel Eye Associates

At Spindel Eye Associates, we have a team of specialists who are dedicated to helping you improve your vision and eye health. We specialize in preventive care for eye diseases and vision problems, as well as age-related eye disorders. Our optometrists and ophthalmologists have decades of experience and use advanced technology and techniques to provide the safest and most effective eye care possible.

Make an Appointment With Our Dry Eye Specialists

For more information on how to treat severe dry eyes and find relief from painful, uncomfortable symptoms, make an appointment with our dry eye specialists in Derry, NH. We offer safe, effective dry eye treatment options to patients in Derry, Windham, Londonderry, Raymond, and the surrounding areas. Call us now or contact us online to schedule an appointment with an experienced dry eye doctor.