What is the cause of decreased tear production?

There are many different factors that can contribute to a decrease in tear production. Aging, certain medications (antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, etc.), contact lens intolerance, hormonal changes and excessive screen time can all play a factor. 

You've put up with this long enough

My last eye doctor said everything looked healthy. Should I still come?

If you have symptoms, yes. Your eyes probably do look healthy on a standard exam. That's a different question from whether your tear film is doing its job.

Do I need a referral?

No! You can book with us right now.

Does insurance cover it?

We will determine what your coverage is based upon your insurance provider before beginning treatment

Is dry eye curable?

For most people it's something you manage rather than cure. Managed well, your symptoms improve. Left alone it usually gets worse.

FAQ

If you notice that your symptoms are persistent or are getting worse, come in for a comprehensive eye exam. Our doctors can determine if Dry Eye Syndrome is the cause and begin treatments, including in office procedures and at home care. 
If you begin to notice symptoms of dry eyes, there are ways to attempt to manage discomfort before you come in for any exams. The most common treatment is over-the-counter artificial tears. These eye drops help provide lubrication so that the eyes can remain comfortable and function properly. 

This depends entirely on what we find during our exam.

How Do You Treat It?

Whether the front of your eye has gotten irritated from all of it.

The surface

Whether the small glands along your eyelid are open and working, or blocked.

The oil glands

How long your tears hold together before they break apart.

Your tear film

We're not just checking how well you see, we're checking:

What Happens at a Dry Eye Appointment?

Symptoms may flare up in situations where the eyes expereince extra strain, like looking at a screen, seasonal and environmental changes as well as hormonal changes. It is important to recognize these changes to keep your eyes healthy. While you may first only ocnsider these impacts a nuisance, Dry Eye Syndrome can sometimes lead to damage of the eyes surface and begin to impact day-to-day vision quality. 

Patients with dry eye may expereince a variery of symptoms. Most commonly:
  • Stinging or burning sensation in the eyes
  • Redness of the eyes 
  • Watery eyes
  • Mucus in or around the eyes
  • Tired Eyes
  • Sensitivity to light

What Does Dry Eye Feel Like?

The one nearly everybody actually has. You're making plenty of tears. They're just evaporating before they can do anything, because that oil layer isn't being produced the way it should be.

The simple one. This is what most people picture, although it's the rarer of the two.

2. Your tears evaporate too fast

1. You're not making enough tears

There are two types of dry eye. They feel almost the same from the inside, but they're not the same problem.

Is All Dry Eye the Same?

With proper diagoniss, this common condition can often be treated with over the counter and prescription medication. It also gets missed constantly, because a routine eye exam doesn't test any of this unless someone goes looking on purpose. 

Dry Eye Syndrome is a very common condition that can impact the comfort and functionalisty of the eyes. It occurs when they eyes are not able to generate adequate tears to properly lubricate the eyes, leading to inflammation and potential damage to the eyes surface. This may be a result of the eye producing an insufficient amount of or poor - quality tears that do not provide adequate lubrication for comfort or proper functioning. 

Burning by mid-afternoon. Watering for no reason at all. Vision that goes soft until you blink. And drawer with four kinds of drops in it

You don't have to drive to Boston to find the cause of your dry eye.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye treatment on the South Shore