Tens of millions of Americans suffer from dry eye. With stinging and burning, redness, grittiness and other symptoms, dry eye is among the most common complaints for eye patients. For some, these symptoms come and go, but untreated, long-term dry eye syndrome can cause serious, irreparable vision impairment.

Dry eye results when the eyes lack necessary tear film to keep the surface of the eyes lubricated. Several things can cause dry eye including environmental factors and malfunction of the structures responsible for producing tear elements, such as the meibomian glands.

Without sufficient tear film, irritation can translate to scratches on the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped surface in front of the iris. The cornea is a critical component of the eye, protecting it from dust, germs and other dangerous elements. The cornea is also responsible for screening out harmful UV rays.

Over time, corneal scratches due to dry eye can produce scarring and result in permanent vision loss. In extreme cases, the entire eye can be lost.

It’s important to be examined by an eye doctor when dry eye symptoms persist for more than a couple days or when symptoms worsen. Your physician will perform a series of simple tests to diagnose dry eye and will prescribe a treatment plan based on your specific needs.

In many cases, the root cause is evaporative dry eye disease, in which the meibomian glands are underperforming or blocked. When functioning properly, these glands along the eyelid produce oils that are vital for healthy tear film.

Your eye physician can address evaporative dry eye disease using a non-surgical treatment called LipiFlow. With LipiFlow, warmth and gentle compression are combined to unblock meibomian gland ducts, restoring the natural flow of crucial oils. This is often enough to eliminate dry eye symptoms. In fact, 86% of patients experience relief after treatment.

If you suspect you have dry eye syndrome, schedule an appointment with Gainesville Eye Physicians today. With offices in Gainesville, Tioga Town Center, Lake City and Melrose, Dr. Gregory Snodgrass and his team are conveniently located to serve patients throughout North Central Florida.