What Is Dry Eye Syndrome? (DES)
Dry eye syndrome occurs when tear production and drainage are not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are of poor quality. The result? Unpleasant symptoms, including itching, burning, redness, watery eyes, excessive tearing—and even eye pain. Dry eye syndrome can also increase your risk for more serious eye problems like corneal ulcers.
Without treatment or proper medication, DES can worsen over time.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
While over 80% of dry eye cases are due to blocked oil glands in the eyelids — a condition called meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye — other factors can also cause this syndrome. These include:
Gender – the majority of dry eye sufferers are women. This tends to be caused by hormonal changes and make-up usage are the most common factors.
Occupation – if you’re behind a computer or work in a dusty warehouse. Even people who work in hospitals or flight attendants often report to us about dry eye problems.
Age – there’s a higher prevalence of DES in those over 50 years of age
Environment – allergens and wind can affect the quality of your tears. A house with air conditioning or fans (especially ceiling fans!), and car A/Cs aggravate dry eye symptoms.
Medication – these include antidepressants, decongestants and blood pressure medications.
Auto-immune disorders – Sjogren’s disease and arthritis, among others.
How Do I Know If I Have Dry Eye Syndrome?
Do any of these symptoms seem familiar?
- Gritty, itchy, or stinging eyes
- Excessive tearing and discharge
- Eyes that feel tired or dry
- Increased light sensitivity
- Regularly using eye drops
- Discomfort that worsens as the day progresses
If so, you may have dry eye syndrome. Take our dry eye quiz to find out!
What Others Are Saying About Us
Absolute best patient-centered eye care I have EVER experienced. Dr. Garza truly cares about his patients and spends as much time with you as needed for patient education, etc. His staff gives such personalized care. Tammy heads the office staff, each member never fails to make me feel like I'm part of their office family. I highly recommend these folks!!! You will be glad you did!
Lasting & Effective Dry Eye Treatment
We want to address your personal needs and goals to help you make you feel as comfortable as possible with whatever budget you have.
Part of our dry eye program is to provide you with the education needed to properly maintain your ideal eye comfort level.
We aim to restore or maintain the normal amount of tears in the eye to minimize dryness and discomfort. Book a consultation with one of our eye doctors, who can prescribe a customized treatment plan to keep your eyes healthy and comfortable all day, every day.
