Dry Eye Symptoms
Elmquist Eye Group diagnoses and treats dry eye at our Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations. If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of dry eye, we can help you get to the root of the problem and find the best treatment to relieve your discomfort.
Dr. E. Trevor Elmquist, his partner, Dr. Kate Wagner, and his associate, Dr. Nina Burt, have been serving communities throughout Lee County and Southwest Florida for nearly 25 years. We take pride in offering a unique blend of expert eye care and a passion for providing the best service to patients of all ages.
Dr. Elmquist is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Drs. Wagner and Burt are optometrists who are board certified by the State of Florida and the National Board of Optometry.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eyes are caused by lack of sufficient lubrication on the surface of the eye. In general, your eyes are not producing enough tears to coat your eyes. As a result, your eyes are not able to eliminate dust and other irritants. The condition can cause minor irritations, an inability to wear contact lenses, and an increased risk of corneal inflammation and eye infections.
Symptoms of Dry Eye
Individuals who suffer from dry eye syndrome may have mild or serious symptoms, including:
- burning
- stinging
- redness
- itchy eyes
- gritty sensation in the eye
- foreign body sensation
- watering eyes
- intermittent blurry vision
- sensitivity to light
- eyes get tired quickly
If your eyes feel dry and you have one or more of these symptoms or suddenly find yourself unable to see as well as you used to, make an appointment at Elmquist Eye Group right away.
Diagnosing Dry Eye Syndrome
A comprehensive eye exam at Elmquist Eye Group will determine if the symptoms you have are related to dry eyes.
After discussing your symptoms, we would measure your rate of tear production and perform other tests to help us find the root of the problem. We may also recommend a TearLab Osmolarity test to help us assess the severity of your dry eye syndrome.
The TearLab is performed by collecting a tiny sample of one of your tears, one that’s smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. The procedure is painless and takes seconds to perform. The sample is then tested to determine the salt content in your tears.
Elmquist Eye Group has also incorporated the InflammaDry diagnostic test. Dry eye syndrome is a common inflammatory disease of the eye. Patients suffering from certain autoimmune disorders such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome, and Rosacea can now be tested to help the physician determine if inflammation is the cause of the dryness and how best to treat them.
In patients with inflammatory disease, anti-inflammatory therapies may be the alternative to traditional dry eye treatments.
Treating Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye disease is treatable and you don’t need to suffer. There are a variety of options, including artificial tears (over-the-counter eye drops) that can be used to lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture. There are also prescription eye drops. In more severe cases, autologous serum tears, formulated from your own blood serum, may be recommended. Another method involves closing the ducts that drain tears out of the eye to help conserve your own tears or make artificial tears last longer.
If you have been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome or think you may have some of the symptoms, call Elmquist Eye Group at (239) 936-2020 to schedule an appointment and discuss your treatment options.