What are My Dry Eye Treatment Options?

While all of us may experience dry, sensitive eyes when exposed to dry air, pollution, or other factors, some people struggle with dry eye symptoms that affect their daily lives. If watery, itchy, or fatigued eyes make you uncomfortable, Heart of Texas Eye Care offers a range of treatments to help your eyes look and feel refreshed.

What Causes Dry Eye?

If you frequently experience dry eye symptoms, most likely have a problem with the amount of tears or tears that are missing a layer. Your tears are more than just salty water. They contain mucus and an oil called meibum produced by glands along the edge of the eyelid. Dysfunction of these Meibomian glands is a common dry eye cause, but others include contact lens use, medications, medical conditions, and many other factors. 

What are My Dry Eye Treatment Options?

Most people with dry eye symptoms have tried over-the-counter products like artificial tears, gels, ointments and other eye drops before seeking help from an eye doctor. These products often provide minimal, short-lasting help. Our more effective options include:

Eye Drops

Prescription Medicated Eye Drops: your eye doctor can prescribe a range of medications administered as eye drops, and they may recommend more than one depending on the cause of your dry eye. This is typically the first step if over-the-counter artificial tears have not provided relief. 

Serum Tears: if medicated drops do not help enough, your eye doctor may recommend using tears made from your serum, the liquid component of your blood. This serum contains beneficial plasma components than can help heal and soothe your eyes. 

Procedures

Punctal Plugs: these tiny plugs block the ducts that help tears drain out of your eye, helping them last longer and improving symptoms. 

Thermal Cautery: this procedure uses heat to close the ducts that drain your tears if punctual plugs have no worked well enough. 

IPL Therapy: people with Meibomian gland dysfunction can benefit from this light-based treatment that uses broad wavelengths to reduce inflammation, bacteria, and gland blockage to restore a healthy oil layer to your tears. Amniotic Membrane Therapy: This advanced treatment uses a healing membrane placed over the eye. They create an immediate protective barrier, and over the next few days, they are absorbed into the cornea, helping to repair damage and boost healthy tissue growth.

What Results Will I See With Dry Eye Treatment?

Each person’s experience with dry eye treatment will look different. Some people may find the relief they want with medicated eye drops, while others may need to try several procedures to achieve the results they hope for. Results may be noticeable quickly or take several weeks to months to see full improvements.

Take the Next Step

If you’d like to learn more about dry eye treatment, schedule a consultation with our Heart of Texas Eye Care team, serving Dripping Springs, Austin, Kyle, Bee Cave, Marble Falls, and other surrounding areas. Contact us at (512) 213-2220 today!

*Individual results may vary