If you suffer from "dry eye," you need to get relief. It is vital that this condition is treated at once, as the surface of the eye (cornea) can be damaged if the problem is not treated. At Lotus Vision in Alpharetta, GA, our board-certified ophthalmologist will perform a thorough assessment of your case of dry eye to identify the cause and plan a treatment to bring you relief. If your eyes have been damaged due to dry eye, we offer groundbreaking and arguably the best dry eye treatment in Atlanta to restore eye health and function.
Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye symptoms typically affect both eyes. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- A burning, stinging sensation
- Excesses of stringy mucus forms around eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Red eyes
- Irritated eyes
- Constant sensation of having something in your eyes
- Cannot comfortably wear contacts
- Problems with vision when driving at night
- Irritated eyes
- Blurry vision
- Overflowing eyes (excessive tears)
Causes of Dry Eye
While the symptoms appear similar, the causes of dry eye can vary. Some of the causes include:
- Aging
- Many medical conditions (diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, lupus, and others.)
- Side effect of many types of prescription medications
- Tear gland damage
Treatments for Dry Eye at Lotus Vision
As every patient is living with a unique condition, the treatment for dry eye varies from patient to patient. When over-the-counter lubricating eye drops do not provide sufficient relief alone, some of the treatments we provide to treat dry eye include:
Punctal plugs
This treatment involves placing a very tiny, biocompatible implanted medical device into the tear ducts to block drainage to provide eyes with sufficient tears. The device is smaller than a grain of rice. This treatment is effective in cases of aqueous deficient dry eye or evaporative dry eye.
Eyelid exfoliation
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic dry eye symptoms due to overgrowth of microorganisms on their eyelids and lashes. Dr. Nemi is able to counsel patients and prescribe an eyelash and eyelid cleansing product designed for removal of microorganisms and debris that contribute to these symptoms.
Prescription medications
There are many available pharmaceutical drugs to treat dry eye. Each medication has an appropriate use. If you suffer from dry eye, we can prescribe a medication as as a next step in treatment in an individual already using artificial tears. These prescription eye drops work to target and reduce inflammation in the eyes while increasing natural tear production.
Amniotic membrane graft
Amniotic membrane can be used to treat patients with damaged eye surfaces from long term dry eye that has damaged or eroded the cornea to the point that it cannot heal. This is a highly-specialized surgical procedure performed by Dr. Nemi in treating corneal ulcers or infections, or to reconstruct the surface of the eye, or to promote healing.
Autologous serum
Autologous means this blood serum comes from your own body. Eye drops created from your own blood serum have been established as being an effective method of treating eye surface conditions and diseases. These eye drops contain diluted concentrations of vitamins and growth factors extracted from your blood to promote a healthy cornea after damage from dry eye. The serum is created from a simple blood draw, after which is it spun in a centrifuge to separate the various blood components. The extracted serum is then diluted by combining it with artificial tears.
More About Dry Eye
Many people come to Lotus Vision due to excessive, overflowing tears. While it may seem contradictory, the reason behind the excess tears is often actually dry eye. Your eyes are working hard to overcome the lack of lubrication by trying to cleanse the eye surface with a flood of tears, as occurs when you get something in your eye. This condition should be treated immediately and correctly so the eye surface is not damaged. To receive some of the best dry eye treatment in Atlanta, schedule a consultation at Lotus Vision.
Types of Medications: Dry Eye Side Effects
Several types of medications can have a side effect of causing dry eye. These include some types of the following medications:
- Antihistamines
- Acne medications
- Antidepressants
- Sleeping pills
- Birth control pills and hormones
- Blood pressure medications
- Nasal decongestants
- Pain relieving medications
The first step in treating dry eye is to determine if your medications are at the root of the problem, and if so, plan a treatment so you are relieved of the condition, and the surface of your eye protected from the risk of damage.
Dry Eye? Connect with us at Lotus Vision to get your condition correctly diagnosed and treated.
