Conditions & Disease
Dry eye disease happens when your tears aren't stable enough to keep the surface of the eye comfortable. It's chronic, it's common in the Roanoke Valley's dry winters, and it responds well to a targeted plan.
Adults with burning, stinging, watery, or fluctuating vision — especially contact lens wearers, screen users, and patients over 50.
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It sounds backward, but constant watering is one of the most common signs of dry eye. When the surface of the eye is irritated, the gland that produces emergency tears floods it — and those reflex tears lack the oil that keeps a tear film stable, so relief lasts seconds. Treating the underlying dryness is what actually stops the watering.
A row of small glands along each lid margin produces the oil layer that keeps tears from evaporating. When those glands thicken or clog, tears disappear faster than your eyes can replace them. That is why our treatment plans usually begin with warm compresses and lid care and, when needed, prescription therapy — rather than simply adding another artificial tear on top.
Dry eye is chronic, and Virginia weather matters: dry indoor heat in winter, pollen and air conditioning in spring and summer. We start with the least invasive step that will work, then re-check to see whether it did. If it did not, we escalate — prescription anti-inflammatory drops, punctal plugs, or in-office treatment. What we do not do is keep repeating something that is not helping.
Redness is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Dry eye redness tends to build through the day and comes with burning or fluctuating vision; infection or allergy usually appears suddenly with discharge or itching. An exam separates them in minutes.
Most dry eye starts in the meibomian glands along the lid margin, which produce the oil that keeps tears from evaporating. Treating those glands — with heat, lid hygiene, and prescription therapy — addresses the cause rather than rinsing the surface.
Related care
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