Dry Eyes

If you’ve ever experienced a burning sensation, itchy eyes, or blurry vision that seems to come and go, you might be dealing with dry eye disease. This common condition affects millions of people and can significantly impact your comfort, productivity, and even your ability to wear contact lenses. At La Mirada Optometry, Dr. Chen-Bennett offers comprehensive dry eye evaluations and personalized treatment plans designed to get to the root cause of your symptoms.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. Tears are essential to keeping the eyes lubricated, nourished, and protected from environmental irritants.

There are two primary types of dry eye:

• Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: The lacrimal glands don’t produce enough tears.

• Evaporative Dry Eye: Tears evaporate too quickly, often due to an issue with the oily layer of the tear film.

Many patients experience a combination of both types, and the key to effective treatment lies in pinpointing the underlying cause.

Common Causes of Dry Eye

Several factors can contribute to dry eye, including:

• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): One of the leading causes of evaporative dry eye. The meibomian glands in your eyelids secrete oils that prevent tears from evaporating too quickly. When these glands become blocked or dysfunctional, the tear film becomes unstable.

• Aging: Tear production tends to decrease with age.

• Hormonal Changes: Especially common during menopause or while taking hormone replacement therapy.

• Environmental Factors: Wind, dry air, and prolonged screen time can contribute to symptoms.

• Contact Lens Wear: Wearing the wrong type of contacts or overwearing lenses can aggravate dry eye.

• Medications: Some antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications can reduce tear production.

• Allergies: Seasonal or environmental allergies can cause eye inflammation and contribute to dry eye symptoms, especially when accompanied by frequent rubbing or the use of antihistamine eye drops.

• Autoimmune Conditions: Conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome can affect tear glands.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye symptoms can vary in intensity and frequency, but commonly include:

• Burning or stinging sensations

• Gritty or sandy feeling

• If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential to schedule a comprehensive eye exam to get to the root of the problem.

• Redness or irritation

• Blurred or fluctuating vision

• Sensitivity to light

• Excessive tearing

• Difficulty wearing contact lenses

• Eye fatigue

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How Is Dry Eye Diagnosed?

Dr. Chen-Bennett conducts a comprehensive dry eye evaluation using advanced diagnostic tools to assess tear volume, tear film stability, and the function of the meibomian glands. This in-depth assessment may include tests such as tear break-up time to measure how quickly the tear film evaporates, and meibography to visualize the structure and health of the meibomian glands. By identifying the specific cause of your dry eye symptoms, we can develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

Personalized Dry Eye Treatment Options

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for dry eyes. Dr. Chen-Bennett provides customized treatment plans based on the root cause of your symptoms.

• Lid Hygiene and Warm Compresses: Maintaining proper eyelid hygiene is essential, especially for those with MGD. Gentle cleansing of the eyelids and warm compresses can help unclog meibomian glands and restore a healthy tear film.

• Artificial Tears and Lubricating Drops: Over-the-counter or preservative-free artificial tears can help relieve mild symptoms by supplementing your natural tear film. Dr. Chen-Bennett will guide you in choosing the right product and frequency of use.

• Prescription Eye Drops: For more severe cases, prescription eye drops may be recommended to reduce inflammation and increase natural tear production.

• Nutritional Supplements: Omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been shown to improve the quality of the oily layer of tears. We may suggest high-quality fish oil supplements to support long-term eye health.

• Finding the Right Contact Lenses: If you're a contact lens wearer, switching to daily disposables or lenses made with moisture-retaining materials can make a world of difference. Dr. Chen-Bennett can help you find lenses that are more comfortable for dry eye sufferers.

Experience Dry Eye Relief at La Mirada Optometry

Dry eye can be more than just a daily annoyance—it can interfere with your vision, comfort, and quality of life. With the right diagnosis and personalized care, you don’t have to live with the discomfort. At La Mirada Optometry, Dr. Debbie Chen-Bennett is dedicated to helping you find real, lasting relief through treatment solutions tailored to your needs.

If you’re tired of dealing with dry, irritated eyes, schedule a consultation today to restore your comfort and eye health.