What is Dry Eye?

Have you ever experienced any of the following symptoms for prolonged periods of time?

A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Light Sensitivity
Red Eyes
A sensation of having something in your eyes
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Difficulty driving at night
Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dry eyes
Blurred vision or eye fatigue

If you have experienced any one or more of these symptoms you could be suffering from Dry Eye Disease, known medically as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca. About 10% of the general population suffers from chronic Dry Eye Disease. There are many ways to acquire dry eyes. Some of the reasons might include:

Environmental factors
Increased Screen Time
Menopause and Post-Menopause
Auto-Immune Disease
Individual tear biology
Side effects of certain medications
Contact lenses

Historically, the primary treatment was to use lubrication eye drops or ointment multiple times per day. In the past few years, many more treatment options have become available for patients suffering from Dry Eye Disease. Treatment protocol is determined by the severity, symptoms, and test results from a Dry Eye Evaluation given by Dr. Melendrez or Dr. Stahl. The doctors at Beach Cities Optometry have been treating Dry Eye Disease for over 25 years and their clinical experience is extensive, having seen and succesfully treated over 100,000 patients over their professional careers.

If you believe you are suffering from Dry Eye Disease contact Beach Cities Optometry for a Dry Eye Evaluation to see which treatment(s) is the correct one for you to provide long term relief.