Dry Eye Causes and Symptoms

Dry eyes are among the most common complaints among those seeking eye care. The condition occurs among those whose eyes produce tears in insufficient volume or low quality or when their tears drain too quickly with symptoms including stinging and uncomfortable eyes. If you consistently experience dry or itchy eyes and want to schedule an eye exam, contact us at Niagara Eye Associates, your eye doctor team in Erie, PA.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eyes are common and often result from short-term environmental factors or allergies, so some people sometimes dismiss their importance. However, if you experience dry eyes regularly, you may have dry eye syndrome. In addition to stinging or itchy eyes, symptoms of dry eye syndrome can include combinations of eye pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, or excessive discharge or pus in your eyes. These symptoms can seriously disrupt your life and cause harm to your work and time with friends and family, potentially making more extensive treatment necessary.

Diagnosing Dry Eye Syndrome

Eye doctors can diagnose dry eyes and dry eye syndrome as part of an eye exam, which includes a discussion of your symptoms and the situations in which they occur. Some tests we may use could focus on the quality of your tears and assess the proportion of water versus oils in your tears. Other tests might check tear quality by measuring how quickly your tears evaporate.

Based on the eye exam and test results, an eye doctor on our team will seek to identify the cause of your dry eyes and suggest a treatment plan, whether that involves self-care, medication, or other steps, including eye surgery.

Get Eye Surgery, an Eye Exam, Dry Eye, and Eye Doctor Services from an Ophthalmologist Near You or an Optometrist Near You

We at Niagara Eye Associates serve the Erie, PA, area, offering access to an ophthalmologist near you and optometrist near you for your eye care needs. Call our team today at (814) 455-8004 for eye surgery, an eye exam, dry eye, and eye doctor services.