Evaporative Dry Eye Treatment in Downtown Manhattan, NYC

Evaporative dry eye is just like it sounds — your eyes get overly dry because your tears and the protective oil in your eyes evaporate too quickly. Dry eyes are very uncomfortable, and prolonged exposure without treatment can lead to blindness. When you or anyone in your family needs special eye care treatment, call the experts at Eye Physicians near me in NYC. They provide accurate diagnoses and effective evaporative dry eye treatment when you need it and in the form of treatment that suits you and your lifestyle best.

    What Is Evaporative Dry Eye?

    Evaporative Dry EyeEvaporative dry eye occurs when the meibomian glands in your eyelids become blocked or dysfunctional, resulting in a lack of oil in your tear film. Also called tarsal glands, meibomian glands are the oil glands in your eyelids that are near your eyelashes. You need evaporative dry eye treatment when the glands cause your tears to evaporate too quickly, leaving your eyes dry, irritated and inflamed. If left untreated, evaporative dry eye can lead to serious complications such as eye infections, corneal ulcers and vision loss.

    At Eye Physicians in Downtown Manhattan, you have access to the best optometrists with the expertise and experience to diagnose and treat evaporative dry eye effectively. They use the latest technology and techniques to restore your eye health and comfort. They have the right solution for you whether you need medications, eye drops, punctal plugs or LipiFlow.

    What Causes Evaporative Dry Eye?

    Evaporative dry eye is caused by a problem with the meibomian glands in your eyelids. These glands produce oil that mixes with your tears and forms a protective layer on the surface of your eyes. This layer prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly and keeps your eyes moist and comfortable.

    When the meibomian glands aren’t working properly, they produce less or poor-quality oil. This leads to an unstable tear film that breaks down easily and exposes your eyes to dryness and irritation. This is what causes evaporative dry eye. The meibomian glands can become blocked or dysfunctional due to various factors, including:

    • Aging
    • Hormonal changes
    • Inflammation or infection of the eyelids
    • Allergies
    • Medications that reduce tear production
    • Environmental factors such as dry air, wind and smoke
    • Long hours of screen time or contact lens

    What Are the Symptoms of Evaporative Dry Eye?

    Evaporative dry eye can cause a range of uncomfortable and bothersome symptoms that affect your vision and quality of life. You’re most likely to experience a burning, stinging or itching sensation in your eyes. You may feel like your eyes are on fire or have sand in them.

    Another symptom is redness, swelling or soreness of the eyelids. Your eyelids may become inflamed, crusty or sticky due to the lack of oil in your tear film. You may have difficulty seeing clearly or experience glare or halos around lights. Your eyes may also hurt when exposed to bright light or wind. Other symptoms include:

    • A feeling of something in your eyes, or a foreign body sensation. You may feel like there is a speck of dust, an eyelash or a contact lens in your eyes, even when there’s nothing there.
    • Eye fatigue or difficulty concentrating. You may find it hard to focus on your work, reading, or driving due to the dryness and irritation of your eyes. You may also blink more often or rub your eyes to relieve the discomfort.
    • Increased eye watering or discharge. Your eyes may produce more tears or mucus to try to compensate for the lack of oil in your tear film. However, these tears are not effective and may make your eyes drier and more irritated.

    What Is the Available Evaporative Dry Eye Treatment in NYC?

    These are different treatment options for evaporative dry eye that you can find at Eye Physicians in New York City. The goal of treatment is to restore the normal function of the meibomian glands, improve the quality and stability of the tear film, and relieve the symptoms of dryness and irritation.

    Your NYC eye doctor may recommend artificial tears or eye drops that lubricate and moisturize your eyes temporarily. They can also reduce inflammation and irritation. For severe cases your eye doctor deploys more advanced evaporative dry eye treatment including:

    • Prescription eye drops. For more severe cases of evaporative dry eye, your eye doctor may recommend prescription eye drops. These eye drops increase your natural tear production and reduce inflammation in your eyes.
    • Punctal plugs. The eye doctor inserts these tiny devices into the tear ducts to promote tear drainage. This retains more moisture in your eyes and prevents them from drying out. Punctal plugs can be temporary or permanent, depending on your needs and preferences.
    • LipiFlow. This treatment uses heat and pressure to unclog the meibomian glands and restore the oil flow. It’s a painless and non-invasive procedure that takes a few minutes to complete. LipiFlow can provide long-lasting relief for evaporative dry eye and improve your eye comfort and function.
    • Intense pulsed light therapy. This is a treatment that uses pulses of light to target the blood vessels and inflammation around the eyelids. It reduces the blockage and dysfunction of the meibomian glands and improves the quality of the oil in the tears. Intense pulsed light therapy is usually combined with eye massage for optimal results.

    Why Choose Eye Physicians for Evaporative Dry Eye Treatment?

    If you’re looking for a reliable and reputable medical practice for evaporative dry eye treatment, you can trust Eye Physicians in NYC. There is a team of board-certified ophthalmologists with extensive training and experience in diagnosing and treating evaporative dry eye and other eye conditions. They use the latest technology and techniques to provide you with the best possible solution for visual problems. Other reasons for choosing these eye doctors include:

    • They provide you with comprehensive eye care and a personalized treatment plan that suits the severity of your visual problems. They also follow up with you regularly to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment as needed.
    • They are conveniently located in Downtown Manhattan, close to public transportation and parking facilities.
    • They have comprehensive one-stop solutions for eye problems including myopia (nearsightedness), farsightedness, color blindness and other complicated visual problems.
    • They have specially trained pediatric optometrists to provide your children with age-appropriate eye exams and treatment for common kids’ conditions like pink eye and styes.

    Evaporative dry eye is a serious and chronic condition that can affect your eye health and vision. It can lead to disastrous long-term visual damage including vision loss. Contact Eye Physicians in New York City for effective evaporative dry eye treatment to restore eye function and comfort.

    Page Updated on Nov 5, 2024 by Dr. William Hogue, OD (Optometrist) of Eye Physicians
    William Hogue, OD

    My name is Dr. William Hogue, and I am an optometrist dedicated to providing top-quality professional eye care. I'm trained in treating various ocular conditions, including dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, and retinal issues.

    I earned my chemistry degree summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee. Subsequently, I obtained my Doctorate of Optometry (OD) and Master of Science (MS) from the New England College of Optometry. Following graduation, I completed an ocular disease residency at the State University of New York’s College of Optometry. Beyond my clinical work, I have also been a supporter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH).

    More about Dr. Hogue

    Eye Physicians
    110 Lafayette St, Suite 503
    New York, NY 10013
    (212) 292-4814

    Why Choose Eye Physicians?

    Entrust the care of your precious eyesight to highly skilled and experienced eye care professionals. For top-notch ophthalmologists and optometrists in Downtown Manhattan, choose Eye Physicians. Eye Physicians ensures prompt care, precise diagnosis, and personalized treatment plans.

    Schedule an Appointment