Dry Eye Syndrome Minneapolis

All of us will deal with dry, itchy eyes sometime, but if these sensations last for more than a few days or occur frequently, you may be suffering from dry eye syndrome. This extremely common eye condition is due to either insufficient tears or poor-quality tears, which could be caused by medical conditions, some types of medications, or environmental factors. Human tears are fundamental to the overall health of the eyes. That’s why if they malfunction, it can cause extreme discomfort of the eyes and even problems with vision. Dry eye syndrome is typically caused by an underlying illness, and as soon as this underlying illness is found and dealt with, the dry eye symptoms can be significantly reduced. Ophthalmologist Dr. Ralph Chu provides effective solutions for men and women in Bloomington, MN dealing with dry eye syndrome. To learn more about treatments for dry eye syndrome, call Chu Vision Institute to arrange your eye exam.

SYMPTOMS OF DRY EYE

Patients who develop dry eye syndrome commonly have blurry vision and bloodshot, itchy, burning eyes. A lot of people feel a sensation of grittiness in their eyes or have serious discomfort when putting in contact lenses. A lot of individuals with dry eyes also notice that their eyes feel weak and achy. In some cases, they become sensitive to light and notice difficulty with night vision. In contrast to how its name sounds, dry eye can occasionally trigger an overproduction of tears to try to compensate for the condition. Dry eye syndrome is the long-term experience of several or all of these issues and generally leads to challenges in everyday tasks and recreation.

WHAT CAUSES DRY EYE SYNDROME?

The major causes of dry eye syndrome are a lack of tears or irregular tear makeup. The generation of human tears has three basic components, and there are particular types of dry eye syndrome, depending on which part is malfunctioning. The lacrimal glands generate the actual tears, the meibomian glands secrete the tears’ lubrication, and the goblet cells blend the two together. Dry eye syndrome will often occur if any one of these three aspects of tear generation goes awry. Numerous different things can influence each of these aspects, such as hormonal changes, computer use, underlying conditions like lupus, and certain prescription drugs.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

The most effective approach for finding out if you have chronic dry eye syndrome is a thorough eye exam. Along with your symptoms, Dr. Chu will review your medical history to search for any underlying reasons for your dry eyes. Your in-depth eye exam will probably include gauging the amount and makeup of your tears, as well as a routine examination of your corneas, eyelids, and eyes with a tiny light and mirrored lenses. If Dr. Chu does find that you have dry eye syndrome, he will design your unique treatment plan according to the details surrounding your case.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR DRY EYE SYNDROME

Your customized dry eye treatment will be based on the underlying problem behind your dry eyes. After an in-depth exam and consultation, Dr. Chu will be able to decide which treatment best suits your specific needs. A great number of individuals with minor cases of the condition can lessen their discomfort with prescription or drugstore eye drops. These solutions can augment your real tears. If your condition doesn’t respond to eye drops, special plugs can be put in your tear ducts (known as punctal occlusion) to seal them off and hold the real tears in the eye.

Dr. Ralph Chu LASIK surgeon Minneapolis Ophthalmologists

Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Ralph Chu is a fellowship-trained corneal specialist and a nationally recognized leader in refractive and cataract procedures. His specialty areas include cataract, LASIK, cornea, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries for patients in the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Twin Cities areas.

Posted on October 27, 2022

I’m curious and want more information.

  • Get clear helpful info.
  • No spam.
  • AND one of our awesome patient experts will check in: concierge care is our thing!

Fill in your info and we'll take it from here:

Consent