If you’re dealing with dry eye, you may have more problems than just uncomfortable dryness. Dry eye is a serious condition that can cause eye redness, pain, and even vision problems if you don’t get help. At American Vision Center in Bloomington, Illinois, skilled optometrist J.E. Tallis, OD, is here to help you blink in comfort again, so book your appointment online or by phone today.
If you have dry eye, your eyes don’t have sufficient tears, or you have tears, but they're poor quality. Your eyes need a thin film of healthy tears at all times, but with dry eye, you just can’t maintain it.
Your tear film is important for several reasons, including keeping your corneal surface smooth, removing foreign particles like dust from your eyes, and reducing infection risk. Without that tear film, your eyes can grow painfully dry along with other symptoms.
Usually, dry eye sufferers have dry eyes along with other eye symptoms including:
Some dry eye sufferers also have a problem with watery eyes. But, that water isn’t the same as healthy tears. It's just your body's reaction to the other symptoms. If you have these symptoms, it’s time to see Dr. Tallis at American Vision Center. Dry eye is treatable as long as you reach out for help.
There are a variety of approaches to dry eye treatment, and Dr. Tallis customizes care according to your symptoms. Most patients begin with over-the-counter or prescription eyedrops that stimulate new tear production, but if that isn’t sufficient or doesn’t work for you, there are many other options, including:
If you wear contact lenses and have dry eye, American Vision Center has contacts options that can enhance your comfort, such as Acuvue Oasys® 1-Day with Hydroluxe™.
If you have an especially serious case of dry eye, and none of the more conservative approaches work, Dr. Tallis may recommend other possible options like surgery to close your tear ducts permanently.
If you’re tired of the dreaded symptoms of dry eye, book your appointment for relief by calling American Vision Center or clicking the online scheduler now.