Dry Eye Care

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Diagnosing and Treating Dry Eye at our Lewiston Optometry Clinic

Dry eye is a condition that develops when there is a problem with the basal tears in your eyes, which are the tears that keep your eye hydrated. Dry eye can occur either due to low tear production or poor tear quality. Our Lewiston optometry clinic offers several treatments for dry eye that can help alleviate your symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye

If you think you may have dry eye, you should take an inventory of your symptoms and call to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor in Lewiston. Dry eye causes itchy, red, scratchy eyes. You may also experience burning sensations as well as blurry vision. Your eye may even water excessively.

It is important to understand that dry eye is a serious condition. The sandy, gritty feeling in your eyes indicated that they are not properly lubricated. When this happens, your corneas are more likely to get scratched, leading to eye infections and pain.

Causes of Dry Eye

  • Allergies

  • Certain Immune System Diseases

  • Certain Medications

  • Certain Skin Diseases

  • Improper Function of the Eyelids

  • Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

  • Oil Gland Blockages

Diagnosing and Treating Dry Eye with our Lewiston Optometrist

Our Lewiston optometrist can diagnose and treat your dry eye. This evaluation can be performed at your yearly exam or during a specific dry eye evaluation.

If you have dry eye, our eye doctor in Lewiston can recommend several treatment options to help alleviate your symptoms and keep your eyes lubricated.

Eye Drops and Creams

If you have dry eye, it may recommend that you use eye drops and/or ointments. The eye drops are used periodically throughout the day to keep your eyes hydrated. The ointments are thicker and are used to keep your eyes hydrated at night.

Temporary or Permanent Tear Duct Plugs

If the eye drops and creams do not provide you with enough relief, our optometrist may insert temporary or temperament tear duct plugs into your eyes. These plugs are designed to stop the basal tears from draining into your tear ducts, which helps keep the tears in your eyes longer.

Schedule an Appointment for Dry Eyes

If you are experiencing dry eyes, Family Eye Health & Contact Lens Center offers a variety of treatments to alleviate your symptoms. To get your eyes tested for dry eye with Dr. Gove call us at 207-782-9501.

Our Lewiston Eye Doctor Answers Your Dry Eye Questions

Dry eye is an extremely common -- and extremely vexing -- eye condition. But many sufferers don't understand why this phenomenon occurs, what it can do to their vision, or what they can do about it. Here are the answers to some frequently asked dry eye questions from our eye doctor at Family Eye Health & Contact Lens Center.

  • What is dry eye? Dry eye is a condition in which your eyes are not receiving enough hydration, lubrication, and/or disease protection from the tear film. This film of tears normally covers the front of the eyes every time you blink.

  • What are tears made of? Tears aren't just salty water. Tear film consists of three layers. A mucin layer nourishes the eyes and helps the tears spread out evenly across the eye. the hydrating water layer rests on this mucin layer. The top-most layer of oil locks the moisture in and prevents premature evaporation.

  • Why does dry eye occur? Dry eye is the direct result of two problems. Either your eyes aren't producing enough tears to keep your eyes covered in the tear film, or the tears you produce lack the correct balance of ingredients to maintain the different tear film layers.

  • Why am I not making enough tears? Aging, medications, and autoimmune diseases can reduce tear production. Your eyes may also be exposed to challenging environmental conditions such as wind or ceiling fans that promote evaporation. Computer users tend to blink less frequently than normal, so their eyes aren't triggered to keep making tears.

  • Why are my eyes dry even though I'm making tears? If your tear film lacks oil, the water in your tears will evaporate before it can properly hydrate the eyes. Problems with the oil-producing meibomian glands can deprive the tear film of oil.

  • What are the symptoms of dry eye? Dry eye symptoms include red eyes, aching or burning, "heavy" sensation in the eye, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. A chronic dry eye can eventually lead to corneal damage.

  • How does your Lewiston optometrist diagnose dry eye? Dr. Gove, can study your tear film volume and composition, lifestyle, and medical condition to determine why your eyes are dry.

  • What are my dry eye treatment options? Dry eye treatments may include eye drops, environmental or work schedule changes, recommendations for modifying your medical care, and therapies to unblock clogged meibomian glands.

Need the Solution to Your Dry Eye? 

Call our optometrist in Lewiston at 207-782-9501 today!

We have the answers to your dry eye dilemma.