Do you sometimes feel that you’re navigating a maze of temporary fixes for your chronic dry eye? Most people enjoy short-lived relief but struggle to find long-term solutions. Today’s blog explores options for dry eye management to help you make an informed decision about your ocular health. Prioritizing treatments that provide lasting results is the key to protecting your eyes and improving your quality of life.
What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a prevalent condition where the eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears produced evaporate too quickly. Without sufficient lubrication, eyes become red, itchy, and uncomfortable. Some patients even experience visual disturbances. Although dry eye is often perceived as a minor inconvenience, untreated dry eye can develop into a more serious issue like ocular surface disease.
Dry eye symptoms fluctuate depending on environmental stressors, so patients typically rely on quick fixes like artificial tears and over-the-counter eye drops. Unfortunately, these solutions are temporary, and symptoms often return within a few hours or days. Treating only the symptoms without addressing the root cause essentially prolongs discomfort and only delays more effective treatments.
What Are The Limitations of Over-The-Counter Dry Eye Treatments?
Artificial tears and lubricating ointments are the most commonly used dry eye treatments for temporary relief. OTC treatments help to wash away environmental irritants and supplement lost moisture. However, these treatments cannot treat the underlying inflammation or gland dysfunction that causes dry eye. Antihistamines and eye whitening drops also temporarily reduce signs and symptoms, but in the long run, they can, in reality, exacerbate dryness.
Relying solely on temporary solutions can give patients a false sense of improvement, while the actual cause of the condition continues to progress. Many patients with dry eye live in a cycle of relief and recurrence. But there are management options available that can provide long-term dry eye relief.
Do Dry Eye Patients Need to See Eye Care Doctors?
Effective long-term dry eye management begins with a comprehensive eye examination. At Weston Contact Lens Institute, we use diagnostic tools to evaluate tear production, tear film quality and stability, eyelid function, and inflammation. Using that information, we can identify what is contributing to your condition, such as meibomian gland dysfunction, allergies, environmental triggers, or autoimmune conditions.
Chronic dry eye also requires ongoing monitoring that can only be performed successfully by an expert who knows what to look for. Regular follow-up appointments allow your doctor to assess the effectiveness of your treatment plan, symptom changes, and your overall ocular health. When you stick to a follow-up appointment schedule, we can adjust your treatments as needed so we can proactively address any new concerns or flare-ups before they become an issue.
What Are The Long-Term Management Options for Dry Eye Patients?
At Weston Contact Lens Institute, we offer highly advanced dry eye management treatments that can provide lasting relief from challenging symptoms. We offer OptiPLUS thermal expression and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy as part of our advanced dry eye treatment options. OptiPLUS uses gentle, controlled radiofrequency heat to warm the eyelids, improve circulation, and soften the oils trapped inside the meibomian glands, helping them function more normally and improving overall tear quality. IPL therapy works by reducing inflammation and targeting abnormal blood vessels around the eyes, which supports healthier gland function and decreases redness and dry eye symptoms.
We also specialize in custom scleral lenses, which vault over the cornea to create a protective, hydrating reservoir that keeps the eye lubricated throughout the day. This makes scleral lenses an excellent option for patients with dry eye, corneal irregularities, or those seeking superior comfort and visual quality.
Are There Lifestyle Adjustments That Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms?
In addition to the medical dry eye management options we have discussed, you can also make lifestyle changes for dry eye relief. Prolonged screen time, exposure to wind, smoking, and regularly drinking alcohol can worsen dry eye symptoms. We encourage our patients to incorporate healthy habits that reduce tear evaporation, including humidifiers in living spaces, limiting screen time, taking breaks to relax their eyes, and wearing sunglasses outdoors.
Furthermore, we always recommend that our patients address any nutritional issues. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can contribute to several health issues, so it can be beneficial to increase your intake of nutrient-dense foods. Many of our patients see significant improvements after introducing supplements into their diet. For example, omega-3 fatty acids support tear production and reduce inflammation.
Expert Care for Long-Term Dry Eye Relief
Embracing a holistic approach to dry eye management is the best way to ensure long-term results. Prioritizing a nutritious diet, healthy lifestyle habits, and a dry eye treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your condition will help you improve your ocular health and eliminate uncomfortable dry eye symptoms. If you’re interested in exploring long-term eye management, contact Weston Contact Lens Institute to schedule a consultation.
