You don’t have to wait for dry eye to go away on its own. Visit one of our member practices in Western New York — the dry eye doctors there can find the underlying causes of your dry eye and direct treatment accordingly, providing lasting relief from both the symptoms and the condition as a whole.
Note: Not all services listed below are available at every store in the Local Eye Doctor network. Please call a specific location to learn more about their current services and selection.
What is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes are underhydrated, which makes them irritated, itchy, and uncomfortable. The cause is an imbalance in your tear makeup. In order to properly moisturize your eyes, tears have to have a precise mixture of water, oil, and mucus. Two of the most common types of dry eye are characterized by a lack of one of these components:
- Evaporative dry eye describes when your tears lack adequate oils and evaporate too quickly
- Aqueous dry eye is when your system doesn’t have enough water to produce healthy tears
Your eye doctor can determine which type or types of dry eye you’re facing, and how best to address them. Your dry eye case is unique to you, and catching it early can make treatment easier!
What Causes Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease often occurs with other diseases of the ocular surface, and sometimes one of these other conditions is the underlying cause of chronic dry eye. In addition, there are several factors that can put you at greater risk for dry eye:
- Age (dry eye is more common in people over 50)
- Pregnancy or menopause, or other hormonal changes
- Previous eye injuries, diseases, or surgeries
There are, however, actions you can take to lower your risk:
- Staying away from windy, dry, or dusty environments
- Limiting screen time
- Reducing contact lens wear
- Checking certain medications to see if dry eye is a side effect
- Treating other eye conditions you may be experiencing
Trusted Optometrists in Your Neighborhood
"Friendly & Helpful"
Buffalo Optical Patient
“More than 5 stars”
Value Vision Patient
"Great Experience for the Whole Family"
“Best Eye Doctor”
Whelpey & Paul Patient
How to Treat Dry Eye
Treatment for dry eye depends on the type and severity of the individual case. There’s no overnight solution, but a multi-pronged approach will give you both short-term relief and better outcomes over time.
Treatment for dry eye often starts with medicated eye drops or artificial tears. Dry eye cases may also be addressed with eyelid wipes and cleansers that keep the area clean and resist further infection or irritation.
Many of our member practices also offer gland expression, which is an in-office treatment that unclogs oil glands and restores their normal function, helping produce healthier tears.
Your Local Eye Doctor in Buffalo, NY and Rochester, NY
The eye doctors at each of our network member practices are well-acquainted with how irritating dry eye disease can be, which is why they pay close attention to detail and give everyone the individualized attention they deserve for their dry eye case. They look forward to seeing you come in and helping provide you with the relief you need!