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We’re On Forest Ave next to Sideways in Plymouth, MI

We’re On Forest Ave next to Sideways in Plymouth, MI

Dry Eye Treatment Q&A

With Dr. Sarah DiPonio-Tulchinsky of Progressive Family Eye Care in Plymouth, MI


Dry Eye Video 1 Transcript

Hi there I am Dr. Sarah and I wanted to go over some common patient questions and concerns regarding dry eye. First is it true that dry eye seems to be more severe in the winter months as opposed to spring and summer? Yes, we do tend to see increased dryness in the winter, there is less humidity in the air, the heat is on, which not only drys out our skin, it also drys out our eye tissues as well. So especially here in Michigan we tend to see that as soon as we start turning our heat on, that dryness becomes more of a problem. Having a humidifier in your house or in your bedroom can sometimes be helpful to address that issue. When should a person come in to see their optometrist for dry eye symptoms, and when is it enough to take care of this problem yourself?

I always recommend coming in to see your optometrist, there are a variety of different types of dry eye, there are a million different treatment options when you go to the store, the shelves are just lined with different eye drops and sometimes it is difficult to make a choice. And not all of those products are the best product for each individual person. So anytime you are experiencing symptoms of dryness which include an actual dry, scratchy, gritty feeling , burning, redness, tearing. You should have that looked at, come on in we will take a look at you, and we will see what we can do. Based on our eye exam findings and your symptoms, we will provide a treatment plan that is appropriate for your particular type of dry eye. What is the examination like to determine if someone has dry eye? We check vision, sometime dry eye can cause fluctuation of vision. We also examine you with a microscope, our slit lamp which is right behind me here. I examine the tear film, I examine the glands on your eyelids that release oils to the surface of your eye which are super important in preventing dry eye .Often times I will put a little dye in your eye, that helps me better evaluate the tear film and how it moves across the surface of your eye. It can also highlight dryness or dry spots on the surface of your eye. So we check vision, we take a good look with the microscope at the front surface of your eye, as well as examining your eye lid.

Dry Eye Video 2 Transcript

So one question is, I have a friend whose eyes are frequently overly watery, that isn't dry eye is it?So I mentioned this earlier briefly, watery eyes is a symptom of dry eye. So if your eyes are overly watery, a lot of patients will complain that their eyes tear in the morning or towards the end of the day or after being on a computer their eyes are tearing. They don't think they have dry eye, because they are producing too many tears, however reflex tearing like that is actually our bodies response to dryness. That happens when the surface of your eye gets too dry and your brain realizes that there is a problem and just produces a whole bunch of tears.

The problem is that they are not good thick tears that stick to the surface of the eye and provide the barrier that you need. They are just these wet watery reflex tears that just roll out of your eye. So excessive tearing can absolutely be a symptom of dry eye, and in fact it is one of the primary symptoms of dry eye, and should be evaluated. What are typical treatments used to help people suffering from dry eye?Again this is why it is important to have you come in and have us take a look at your eyes, so I can evaluate exactly what the cause of the dry eye is, and develop a treatment plan for you. Sometimes for mild dry eyes it is just increasing your water intake, making sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day. Sometimes it is adding in artificial tears drop, and again there are a whole range of products available as far a tear drops go. And I will absolutely make a recommendation as to which is the best eye drop or treatment option for you. Sometimes we go a step further, sometimes we need to add in vitamin supplementation or Omega 3 supplementation. Sometimes for severe cases or when we have tried other treatments and we are not seeing results, there are prescription dry eye medications that we can start you on. Sometimes it is hot compresses and massage to get those oil glands working a little bit better, so that we can produce a higher quality tear film for you to make your eyes feel more comfortable. Sometimes it is as simple as adding a humidifier to your bedroom.

dry eye man



dry eye woman


Dry eye syndrome has several causes. It occurs:






dry eye contact



Another option for dry eye treatment in Plymouth involves a tiny insert filled with a lubricating ingredient. The insert is placed just inside the lower eyelid, where it continuously releases lubrication throughout the day.





For more significant cases of dry eye, your Plymouth eye doctor may recommend punctal plugs. These tiny devices are inserted in ducts in your lids to slow the drainage of tears away from your eyes, thereby keeping your eyes moister.






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