Your Dry Eye Optometrist In Lancaster, PA

At Yealy Eye Care, our dry eye specialists are dedicated to diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome to help you achieve lasting relief and improved eye health. Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that can cause significant discomfort and affect your quality of life. Our team uses advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options to address the underlying causes of dry eye and provide personalized care.

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What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. This can result in a lack of lubrication and moisture on the eye’s surface, leading to symptoms such as:

Burning or stinging sensation
Redness and irritation
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
A feeling of something in the eye
Watery eyes (as a reflex to dryness)

Common Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eye can be caused by various factors, including:

Aging: Tear production tends to decrease with age.
Environmental Conditions: Wind, smoke, and dry climates can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
Medications: Certain medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, can reduce tear production.
Medical Conditions: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid disorders can contribute to dry eye.
Prolonged Screen Use: Staring at screens for extended periods can reduce blink rate, leading to increased evaporation of tears.

Our Comprehensive Dry Eye Services

Advanced Diagnostics:

We use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to evaluate the quality and quantity of your tears and assess the health of your ocular surface. This includes:

Tear Osmolarity Testing: Measures the concentration of your tears to identify imbalances.
Meibography: Examines the meibomian glands, which produce the oily layer of your tears.
Ocular Surface Staining: Uses special dyes to highlight areas of dryness or damage on the eye’s surface.

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Personalized Treatment Options:

Based on the results of your diagnostic tests, we develop a customized treatment plan to address the underlying causes of your dry eye. Our treatment options include:

Prescription Eye Drops:

Medications like cyclosporine (Restasis) and lifitegrast (Xiidra) help increase tear production and reduce inflammation.

Punctal Plugs:

Tiny plugs inserted into the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining away too quickly, keeping the eyes moist.

LipiFlow:

A thermal pulsation treatment that clears blockages in the meibomian glands, improving the quality of the oily layer of your tears.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy:

Uses light pulses to reduce inflammation and improve gland function in cases of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Prokera®:

A therapeutic device made from amniotic membrane tissue that promotes healing and reduces inflammation on the eye’s surface.

TearCare:

A device that applies localized heat and pressure to the eyelids, helping to clear blockages in the meibomian glands.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies:

We provide guidance on lifestyle changes and home remedies to help manage your dry eye symptoms, including:

Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air
Taking regular breaks during screen use
Staying hydrated
Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind and sun

Your prescription medications could be causing Dry Eye:

Antidepressants

Several common antidepressants—including SSRIs such as Paxil and trycyclic antidepressants like Adapin—can cause anticholinergic side effects. These effects can disrupt the function of your lacrimal glands and make your eyes produce fewer tears, resulting in dry eyes.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines can control a wide range of allergy symptoms, but they can also diminish the aqueous layer of your tear film, leaving your eyes without moisture. Benadryl and Claritin are two examples of antihistamines that may affect your tear film this way, but even site-specific antihistamines such as Allegra can lead to dry eyes (although this is less likely).

Acne Control

Topical retinoid-antibiotic combination treatments have been linked to significant dry eye symptoms. These treatments include isotretinoin, which is found in the common acne control medication Accutane and its generic counterparts.

Birth Control

It’s well-known that taking birth control medications frequently leads to dry eyes. However, taking oral contraceptives alone does not seem to affect tear osmolarity, which is a key indicator of dry eyes. It is thought that taking birth control while using contact lenses increases the risk of dry eyes in women, possibly because oral contraceptives may increase contact lens intolerance.

Painkillers

Many common painkillers fall under the category of topical Non-Steroid Anti Inflammatory Drugs (or NSAIDs). Since inflammation is a common symptom of dry eyes, you might think that these drugs would reduce your risk of dry eye syndrome—but that isn’t necessarily true. NSAIDs can also make your cornea less sensitive and exacerbate the damage that dry eyes already cause to the epithelial cells on its surface.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are an active part of many medications for hypertension and migraines. However, they also weaken the aqueous layer in your tear film and cause ocular irritation, resulting in dry and uncomfortable eyes.

Gastrointestinal Medications

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often used to reduce stomach acid levels and prevent common gastrointestinal problems like stomach ulcers and acid reflux. However, numerous PPIs can also cause dry eyes as a side effect, including Prevacid and Prilosec.

Antipsychotic Drugs

Phenothiazines are commonly used to medicate people with schizophrenia, but they also decrease aqueous production, which leads to dry eyes. Thorazine, which is now less commonly used for the same purposes, can also have negative impacts on aqueous production.

Hormone Replacements

Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) can help prevent long-term estrogen deficiency. However, it also increases your risk of developing dry eye syndrome since estrogen affects the course of inflammation in the human body. Interestingly, the same research shows that MHT can reduce your risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma.

Chemotherapy Medications

Dry eyes are a common side effect of cyclophosphamide, which is frequently used for chemotherapy under the name Cytoxan.

Why Choose Yealy Eye Care for Dry Eye Treatment?

Our optometrists have specialized training and extensive experience in diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome.

Advanced Technology: We use the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies to provide effective and long-lasting relief.
Personalized Care: We develop individualized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and monitor your progress to ensure optimal results.

Comprehensive Services: From advanced treatments to lifestyle recommendations, we offer a full range of services to manage dry eye syndrome.

If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eye, don’t wait to seek relief. Schedule a consultation with our dry eye specialists at Yealy Eye Care to receive a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan. Our team is dedicated to helping you achieve comfortable, healthy eyes.

Contact Us for Dry Eye Relief

If you’re seeking relief for your dry eyes, Our Team of Dry Eye Experts can help. Yealy Eye Care's Dry Eye Clinic serves patients from Lancaster County, Lancaster Township, York, East Petersburg, and throughout Pennsylvania.

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Serving Dry Eye Patients from:

Lancaster County | Lancaster Township | York | East Petersburg | and throughout Pennsylvania

SPEED™ Questionnaire

Take the Speed Questionnaire to assess the symptoms of your eyes that could be hindering the quality of your vision.