If your eyes often feel dry, irritated, or tired, you’re not alone. Dry eye is a common condition that can affect your comfort, vision, and quality of life. In fact, dry eye is more common today than ever before. It’s been estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide suffer from dry eye. The good news is that with the right diagnosis and treatment, lasting relief is possible.
At Collins Vision, we take a personalized approach to dry eye care—helping patients understand the cause of their symptoms and guiding them toward real solutions.
What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the quality of your tears isn’t sufficient to keep the surface of your eyes properly lubricated.
Tears are important! They are essential for keeping your eyes comfortable, maintaining clear vision, and even for offering a protective barrier on the surface of the eye.
When this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to ongoing irritation and inflammation.
Common Causes of Dry Eye
Dry eye can develop for a variety of reasons, and often more than one factor is involved.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): When oil glands in the eyelids become blocked, tears evaporate too quickly
- Aging: Tear production naturally decreases over time
- Hormonal changes: Especially common in women
- Screen use: Extended time on computers or devices reduces blinking
- Environmental factors: Wind, dry air, or air conditioning
- Contact lens wear
- Certain medications
Identifying the root cause of your unique ocular condition is key to finding the most effective treatment for you. And a dry eye evaluation at the Collins Vision Dry Eye Specialty Clinic is the place to start.
Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye symptoms can vary from person to person and can range from mild to more persistent. The most common symptoms include:
- Blurriness
- Sensitivity to light
- Irritation from windy conditions
- Fatigued eyes at the end of the day
- Problems wearing contact lenses
- Scratchy or gritty feeling
- Excessive tearing
- Red Eyes
If you experience one or more of these symptoms on a regular basis, we recommend having your eyes evaluated by one of our experienced dry eye specialists.
Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Options
At Collins Vision, dry eye evaluation goes beyond a basic eye exam. Our team uses advanced diagnostics to better understand what’s causing your symptoms.
Dr. Nicole E. Alessi, director of our Dry Eye Specialty Clinic, has collaborated with leading dry eye specialists around the country to develop the Collins Vision Dry Eye Specialty Clinic. Her interest in this area began during her residency training, where a strong emphasis was placed on the chronic disease of dry eye. She is dedicated to offering the most up-to-date, comprehensive care for patients with dry eye, blepharitis, and various ocular surface disorders.
During your first appointment, you will personally meet with one of our dry eye specialists for your evaluation and a discussion about your customized treatment plan. Because dry eye has many possible causes, treatment is not one-size-fits-all. At Collins Vision, we offer a range of advanced therapies designed to address the underlying issue—not just the symptoms.
To help our patients suffering from chronic dry eye, we have created a comprehensive Dry Eye Treatment Package for optimal results and minimal ongoing maintenance. It includes:
- BlephEx® to clean and clear out the blocked meibomian gland
- Forma-I / Lumecca IPL to improve the quality of your tear film, open the tear ducts, and repair the glands
- Manual Gland Expression to ensure clear, proper function
- Dry Eye Kit for at-home therapy during treatment
This package includes six highly customized treatments along with our dry eye kit for at-home therapy during the treatment period. Other components of your treatment plan may include ocular allergy treatment, punctual occlusion, lubrication, hygiene and prescription medication.
Find Lasting Relief from Dry Eye
If you’re dealing with dry, irritated eyes, you don’t have to just live with it or try to manage it on your own. The first step is to understand what’s causing your symptoms—and to find the right treatment to address them.
The team at Collins Vision is here to help you get back to seeing and feeling your best. We want every patient we serve to enjoy life with the vision they deserve! Schedule your dry eye evaluation today.