Dry eye syndrome is a treatable condition, but not all cases of the condition are completely curable. Depending on the cause of your condition and its severity, it’s likely that your symptoms can be significantly alleviated with the right treatment, but treatment options vary, from seemingly simple eye drops to slightly more extensive procedures like punctual plugs.
The best way to determine how to treat your dry eyes is to let Dr. Ryczek perform a comprehensive dry eye exam. During this exam, Dr. Ryczek can determine if you are actually suffering from a medical condition or perhaps just misinterpreting the symptoms. If the diagnosis is in fact dry eye syndrome, he will be able to assess the severity of your condition to recommend the most suitable treatment.
Dry Eye Treatment Options
For some patients, the use of over-the-counter artificial tears can be a viable solution, but if your dry eye is more persistent, Dr. Ryczek might suggest prescription eye drops. There are also options for oral antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drops, and dissolvable or semi-permanent punctual plugs.
In many cases, these treatment options will be most effective if complemented by environmental and/or dietary modifications. For example, if you notice that your symptoms worsen during different parts of your day, Dr. Ryczek might ask you to consider why this happens so you can avoid irritating your eyes. Humidity levels, exposure to fans and heat ducts, exposure to outdoor allergens or unfavorable weather such as strong winds, can all cause symptoms to flare up. In this case, modifying your home or work environment or avoiding certain situations can help you prevent uncomfortable symptoms from occurring.
Similarly, because dry eye syndrome is affected by the quality of your tear film, increasing consumption of specific dietary supplements such as oily fish or flax seed can also contribute to the alleviation of symptoms.
Every instance of dry eye syndrome is unique though, so to determine the best method of treatment, it’s important to consult a professional eye doctor.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ryczek, call our St. Petersburg optometry office at 727-327-8855 today.
