Dry Eye Services
Dry Eye is the most under diagnosed yet persistently irritating of eye conditions. It can cause you to experience:
- Redness
- Discomfort
- Itching
- Irritation
- Foreign body sensation
- Burning
- Stinging
- Transient poor vision
- Contact lens intolerance
- Watering
- Tired eyes
Our Comprehensive Dry Eye workup includes specific dry eye case history, two distinct methods of obtaining baseline tear measurements, a biomicroscopy examination, analysis, and our doctor’s recommendation. Tear Savers may be applied the same day as your appointment.
Dry Eye Sufferers – Relief is Finally Available!
If you want to keep water in a sink, you cover the drain. Simple – and effective. That’s exactly what we do with Tear Savers, except that the “sink” is your eye – actually, tiny opening in the eyelids called the puncta that drain moisture (tears) from the eye into the drainage canal. This draining is normal, and most people maintain a constant balance between tear production, evaporation, and draining, which keeps the eyes and eyelids comfortably lubricated. Tear Savers may be used when an imbalance in this system causes a persistent, uncomfortable dry eye condition.
How are Tear Savers applied?
Applying Tear Savers is a two-step process. First, we apply a dissolvable Tear Saver made of collagen. The collagen dissolves in about four to seven days. During this time, we’ll have you complete a symptoms checklist. We expect that, initially, you’ll notice a decrease in your symptoms. Then, as the Tear Saver dissolves, your symptoms should return. If this is the case – as it usually is – we will then use a non-dissolvable (but removable) Tear Saver. The placement of a Tear Saver is simple, quick, and painless. It is done in the office, and no anesthesia is necessary. Tear Savers do not affect your vision, so you can drive yourself home from your Tear Savers office visit.
What are Tear Savers made of?
Non-dissolvable Tear Savers are made of soft, flexible, silicone rubber, similar to the material used to make contact lenses. And Tear Savers is tiny – so small that most patients don’t even remember it’s in place. We can easily remove a Tear Saver at any time, but this is seldom necessary.
When will I begin to feel relief?
Most people begin to feel relief within the first day of using Tear Savers, although for others this may take longer.
Can I use Tear Savers with contact lenses?
Using Tear Savers with contact lenses or after Laser Vision Correction is very common and not a problem. In fact, after using Tear Savers, many contact lens wearers report increased comfort and the ability to wear their lenses longer.
Can I use lubricating drops with Tear Savers?
You may still need to use lubricating eye drops after Tear Savers. If you do, you should notice that the drops are more effective than without Tear Savers.
Will my insurance cover Tear Savers?
Since Dry Eye is considerate a medical condition and not a vision problem, your insurance company may reimburse you for a portion of the fees.
Schedule an appointment for a complementary Tear Saver consultation today.
