Conquer Your Dry Eye Symptoms and Enjoy Spring
Published by on May 26, 2015
It is finally happening! The long tortuous winter season is coming to an end. Here come the beautiful scents of spring time, tulips coming up through the soil, trees starting to show their color. We always look forward to the newness of springtime and the warmer weather. But along with all this beauty and an opportunity to enjoy outside activities comes the pollen and allergens of spring. If you also happen to suffer from dry eye symptoms, it is not an enjoyable time of year.
In fact, spring allergy season could be the worst time of year for you. It is truly a double whammy, but there are ways you can conquer your dry eye symptoms and enjoy spring. If you or someone you know has dry eye symptoms and also suffers with spring allergies, we will provide some information and remedies for both. Everyone should enjoy the springtime.
What Causes Dry Eyes or Dry Eye Syndrome
If you have dry eye issues, you are certainly not alone. Twenty-three million people suffer from dry eyes in the US, and if you live in a big city or your occupation requires that you spend your day in front of a computer, you are probably one of them. Our eyes need to produce a sufficient amount of tears or moisture to be comfortable, see clearly, and remain healthy.
Our tears help wash away pollutants and debris. They even help ward away bacteria to prevent infection! The most common form of Dry Eye Syndrome is evaporative dry eye– a condition in which our tears evaporate too quickly to provide needed moisture. This happens when the glands in our eyes, known as Meibomian glands, are blocked.
If you require occasional over-the-counter eye drops, then it may not be such an issue for you. But if you constantly need these drops to be comfortable, you may be suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome. This chronic lack of moisture will only become worse with time and each season of the year presents additional discomfort. The burning, itching, and scratchiness of dry eyes is a constant battle. Dry Eye Syndrome has multiple causes. Some contributing factors are listed here:
- Age– our eyes produce less lubrication as we get older
- Taking certain prescription medications including allergy meds
- Forced heating and air conditioning
- Pollution in big cities
- Wearing contact lenses
- Auto-immune diseases
So if you are a female going through menopause who lives in a big city, has a job working on a computer, and wears contact lenses, well you see the problem.
Relief from Dry Eye Syndrome
In order to combat this condition, it must first be diagnosed, treated and managed. Kugler Vision has an entire department devoted to the evaluation of your dry eye symptoms, and then the exact treatment needed to relieve your discomfort. We are the first practice in Omaha to offer LipiFlow technology. The evaluation consists of:
- a thorough eye exam
- an analysis of how much actual tear film you are producing
- a review of your medical history
- visual field tests, corneal topography, and if needed, even a dyed eye drop test
This provides our doctors with a thorough understanding of your eye health and the severity of your Dry Eye Syndrome.
After the evaluation of your particular kind of dry eyes and the level of your evaporative dry eye symptoms, our doctors will embark upon a specific treatment for your level of dryness. Using the Lipiflow Thermal Pulsation System, our dry eye experts at Kugler Vision will be able treat the cause of your evaporative dry eye by unblocking your Meibomian glands.
After the evaluation, our doctors may recommend LipiFlow as a treatment. The LipiFlow procedure is performed in the office and takes less than fifteen minutes. It consists of a gentle pulsated heat treatment to the inner eyelids. The procedure is safe, painless, and sterile. This revolutionary treatment will give you long-term relief from your dry eye symptoms by restarting the natural process of making the oils needed for healthy tear film.
This treatment is approved by the FDA and will give you the lasting results you are looking for. It may be necessary to have a second treatment if your dry eye condition is severe enough. Time to conquer your dry eye symptoms and enjoy spring! Find out what treatment options are best for you before spring allergy season is upon us.
We are happy to answer all your questions. Schedule a dry eye evaluation at Kugler Vision and get relief from the itching, burning, and uncomfortable effects of living with Dry Eye Syndrome. LipiFlow may provide you with the relief you need! Please call or text 402.558.2211. You may also contact us here to ask us about LipiFlow, and our other dry eye services that can help you
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
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