Dry Eye
Dry Eye Disease Specialist in Illinois & Iowa
Are Your Eyes Constantly Bothering You?
If your eyes feel tired, scratchy, or irritated throughout the day, you’re not alone. Over 16 million Americans suffer from dry eye disease, and that number is growing fast.
Check your symptoms. Do you experience:
- Burning or stinging eyes
- Redness that won’t go away
- Itchy, irritated eyes
- Blurry vision that comes and goes
- Feeling like there’s sand or grit in your eyes
- Contact lenses that feel uncomfortable
- Sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes (yes, this can be a sign of dry eyes!)
- Eyes that feel tired all the time
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Think of your tears as a protective shield for your eyes. Every time you blink, tears spread across your eye’s surface to keep it comfortable, clear, and healthy. But when this tear system gets out of balance, you develop dry eye disease. Your eyes need the right amount AND quality of tears to stay comfortable. When something disrupts this delicate balance—whether you’re not making enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly—your eyes become irritated and uncomfortable.
The frustrating truth: Dry eye disease is a chronic condition that affects your daily life, but the good news is that it can be effectively managed with the right treatment.
Why Dry Eyes Are More Than Just Annoying
Short-Term Problems:
- Constant eye irritation that distracts you all day
- Blurry vision that makes reading and computer work difficult
- Tired eyes that make you want to close them frequently
- Contact lenses that become impossible to wear comfortably
Long-Term Concerns:
- Without proper treatment, dry eyes can lead to permanent vision problems. That’s why early diagnosis and treatment are so important.
Daily activities become a struggle: Reading, watching TV, using your phone or computer, and even driving can become uncomfortable when you’re dealing with dry eyes.
Understanding Your Tears: The Three-Layer System
Your tears aren’t just water—they’re a complex, three-layer system that protects your eyes:
1. Inner Mucus Layer
- Coats your eye’s surface
- Helps tears stick to your eye
- Spreads tears evenly
2. Middle Water Layer (Thickest)
- Contains vitamins and minerals that nourish your eyes
- Washes away debris and fights germs
- Like a natural saline solution
3. Outer Oil Layer
- Seals everything in
- Keeps tears from evaporating too quickly
- Keeps the tear surface smooth
When any of these layers gets out of balance, you develop dry eye symptoms.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
The Two Main Problems:
- Not enough tears are produced by your glands
- Tears evaporate too quickly due to a poor oil layer
Lifestyle Factors:
- Screen time: Staring at phones, computers, and tablets makes you blink less
- Contact lens wear: Can irritate your eye’s surface
- Makeup: Some cosmetics can irritate your eyes
- Smoking and alcohol: Both affect tear production
- Not enough sleep: Your eyes need rest to stay healthy
Age and Gender:
- Age 55+: Tear production naturally decreases
- Women: Hormonal changes from pregnancy, birth control, or menopause increase risk
Medical Conditions:
- Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease)
- Blood pressure medications
- Antidepressants and sleeping pills
- Allergy and cold medications
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Eyelid problems – ectropion (out-turning of the lids) or entropion (in-turning of the lids)
Environmental Factors:
- Air conditioning and heating
- Wind, smoke, and air pollution
- Dry climates
- Airplane travel
Recent Eye Procedures:
- LASIK surgery can temporarily or permanently affect tear production
Advanced Dry Eye Testing: Getting Real Answers
Gone are the days when doctors had to guess about your dry eyes. We now use advanced technology to get precise answers:
TearLab Testing
- Takes a tiny sample of your tears (smaller than a period!)
- Measures salt levels in seconds
- Tells us exactly how dry your eyes are
- Results immediately: Over 300 = somewhat dry, Over 305 = usually causes symptoms
InflammaDry Testing
- Quick in-office test
- Detects inflammation in your tears
- Helps us choose the most effective treatment
This advanced testing helps us identify the root cause of YOUR dry eyes so we can treat them effectively.
Treatment Options: From Simple to Advanced
What You Can Do at Home:
Simple Daily Changes:
- Blink more often when using screens (follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
- Remove eye makeup thoroughly every night
- Don’t overwear contact lenses, and always take them out at night
- Quit smoking (the chemicals directly damage your eyes)
Home Remedies That Help:
- Warm compresses: Try a convenient Bruder EyeCompress
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry air
- Preservative-free over-the-counter artificial tears for immediate relief
- Fish oil or flaxseed supplements may help improve tear quality
Advanced Procedures:
- Intense pulsed light treatment: Targets oil gland problems
- LipiFlow: Unclogs blocked oil glands
- Scleral contact lenses: For severe cases
- Punctal plugs: Temporarily or permanently block tear drainage to keep tears on your eyes longer
- Amniotic membrane therapy: For extreme cases
Your Path to Relief
Every person’s dry eyes are different. What works for your friend might not work for you, which is why we create personalized treatment plans based on:
- Your specific symptoms
- Advanced testing results
- Your lifestyle and preferences
- The root cause of YOUR dry eyes
Be patient with treatment: Dry eye therapy is a process, and it may take time to find the perfect combination of treatments for you. But with persistence, most people find relief.
Don’t Suffer in Silence
Dry eyes can seriously impact your quality of life, but you don’t have to live with the discomfort. With today’s advanced testing and treatment options, we can help you find relief.
Ready to feel comfortable again?
With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, you can get back to enjoying clear, comfortable vision all day long.