Dry eye | todaysvision

Dry eye occurs when your eyes don't produce enough quality tears to keep them lubricated and nourished. This can lead to discomfort, blurred vision, and an increased risk of eye infections. At Today's Vision Richmond, we offer a range of treatments to alleviate dry eye symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Preventive Self-Care

Incorporating simple habits into your daily routine can help manage mild dry eye symptoms:

Regular Blinking: Especially during extended screen time or reading sessions, make a conscious effort to blink regularly to keep your eyes moist.
Humidify Your Environment: Use a humidifier to maintain adequate moisture levels in the air at home and work.
Protective Eyewear: Wearing wraparound sunglasses can shield your eyes from wind and sun exposure, reducing tear evaporation.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily helps prevent dehydration, which can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
Nutritional Supplements: Essential fatty acids may decrease dry eye symptoms; consider discussing supplements with your healthcare provider.

Artificial Tears

Over-the-counter artificial tears can provide relief:

Low Viscosity Drops: These watery solutions offer quick relief without blurring vision but may require frequent application.
High Viscosity Drops: Gel-like drops provide longer-lasting lubrication but can cause temporary blurred vision, making them ideal for bedtime use.

Prescription Treatments

For persistent dry eye, we offer advanced options:

Specialty Contact Lenses: Scleral or bandage lenses deliver continuous moisture to the eye's surface.
Medications: Depending on the underlying cause, antibiotics can reduce eyelid inflammation, while anti-inflammatory eye drops like cyclosporine (Restasis) or corticosteroids address corneal inflammation.
Tear-Stimulating Drugs: Cholinergic agents, available as pills, gels, or drops, can enhance natural tear production.
Autologous Blood Serum Drops: For severe cases unresponsive to other treatments, customized eye drops made from your blood can provide relief.

In-Office Procedures

We also offer procedures to address dry eye:

Punctal Plugs: Tiny silicone plugs inserted into tear ducts help retain natural tears on the eye's surface longer.
Ocusoft Thermal One-Touch: This treatment applies heat and gentle pressure to the eyelids, releasing lipids from the meibomian glands to improve tear quality.

Don't let dry eye discomfort affect your daily life. Contact Today's Vision Richmond at (832) 916-2020 or visit our website to schedule a comprehensive eye exam and discuss the best treatment plan tailored to your needs.