Dry, irritated eyes can be more than an annoyance. While a one-off experience may mean nothing, frequent dryness is usually a sign of a problem.
Dry eye disease is a common condition that can cause various irritating symptoms. You’re not alone if you have this condition—an estimated 16 million Americans have chronic dry eyes. While this condition can be uncomfortable, treatment can help relieve your symptoms.
Our optometrists can help diagnose the underlying cause of your dry eyes and create a treatment plan. Together, we can work to relieve your symptoms.
Book an appointment with Bettner Vision in Colorado Springs and see how we can help manage your dry eyes.
The symptoms of dry eyes are often exactly that: dry, irritated eyes. While this sensation is most common, dry eye disease has other symptoms, including:
Dry eye disease is a condition that occurs when your tears cannot effectively lubricate your eyes. The main causes of this condition are poor tear quality and inadequate tear volume.
Your tears have 3 main elements that keep your eye’s surface clean and protected: mucin, water, and oil (known as meibum). Mucin makes sure your tears spread across the eye evenly. Meibum creates a coating on the eye’s surface to help prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.
A lack of mucin affects how your tears distribute across the eye’s surface, and a lack of meibum can cause your tears to dry out faster. Both of these factors lead to dry and irritated eyes.
Your lacrimal glands in and around your eyelids are essential for producing tears. However, swelling can occur, causing these glands to produce an inadequate amount of tears, or tear production can block completely.
The quality and quantity of your tears can diminish for several reasons:
Dry eyes are typically chronic, but treatment can help manage this condition, relieving your symptoms. We can recommend several management strategies after determining the root cause of your dry eyes.
BlephEx is an effective in-office treatment used to relieve dry eye symptoms caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, and other eyelid hygiene problems.
This handheld device features a spinning medical-grade sponge that we use along the edge of your eyelids to remove accumulated bacteria that contributes to eye irritation. Some people require this treatment every 4–6 months to promote the healthy production of tears.
Eyelid cleansers can help keep the eyelids clean and meibomian glands clear. These products help remove oil, debris, pollen, and other contaminants from the eyelid area. We offer a variety of pre-moistened cleaning pads and cleansers at Bettner Vision.
We conduct tests to determine if your meibomian glands function well during your eye exam. These glands can become blocked, affecting the oil needed for your tears. We’ll massage the clogged glands if we identify them so they can open and release oil as intended.
The number of expressions needed can vary from person to person. You may only require one treatment, or you may need more if there is a significant blockage. We can complete as many treatments as needed until your glands work properly.
We offer other strategies to help relieve your dry eye symptoms, such as medicated eye drops or supplements and nutritional changes for at-home treatment.
Dry eyes can significantly affect your ability to enjoy everyday life due to irritation. However, this condition is treatable with help from a professional. We can determine the cause of your dry eyes and recommend a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms.
Contact us if you’re interested in dry eye therapy.
The information you need, when you need it.
Read our blog for the latest eye care and eyewear news.
In the realm of eye care, the debate about whether retinal imaging or dilation is the more effective method for examining the retina has been ongoing. Digital retinal imaging is a great option for people who aren’t fans of eyedrops. And while digital retinal imaging is a bit more costly than traditional methods, it’s a […]
Vision therapy is a noninvasive, personalized program that addresses various visual problems, such as strabismus (crossed or turned eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), and convergence insufficiency (eye coordination issues). Once you’ve completed a vision therapy program, which typically takes 6 to 8 months, depending on your condition, you won’t need to repeat it because the changes […]
Are you tired of having to switch between reading and distance glasses constantly? Multifocal contact lenses may be the solution for you. These specialized lenses offer the convenience of both near and far vision correction in one pair, eliminating the need for multiple pairs. But how exactly do these multifocal contact lenses work? They work […]
Dry eye syndrome is a common eye condition that many people experience at some point. It’s caused by a problem with your tears–either you don’t produce enough tears or the ones you do produce are of poor quality. This results in your eyes not getting enough lubrication, leading to discomfort and sometimes, blurry vision. Can […]
Vision problems can significantly impact daily life. Difficulties with eye coordination and focusing make reading and comprehending written material challenging, leading to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Problems with depth perception and spatial awareness hinder safe navigation and participation in sports. Untreated vision issues affect children’s learning and academic performance, impairing their ability to write, […]
Vision problems can significantly impact our lives, leading to difficulties in school, at work, and in our everyday activities—but not all vision problems have the same solution. Vision therapy is one solution for visual challenges that involves a noninvasive, individualized program of exercises and activities intended to strengthen a person’s visual skills. Vision therapy is […]
Many people rely on glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision and thus experience the world with clarity. However, for some, the discomfort, maintenance, or aesthetic concerns associated with these traditional vision correction methods may lead them to search for alternatives. Advances in technology and medical research have introduced other options that can offer […]
Contact lenses can be a great option if you don’t want to wear glasses. You may have heard that dry eye can prevent you from wearing contacts, so it’s reasonable to wonder if another eye disease like glaucoma could pose the same difficulties. Fortunately, you can often wear contact lenses with glaucoma. Glaucoma isn’t a […]
The use of technology is in an upwards trend in our modern world—and so is digital eye strain. With many Americans spending more than 2 hours per day on digital devices, many people are developing uncomfortable and irritating eye strain symptoms. While technology isn’t the only cause of eye strain, it is a contributing factor […]
Wearing glasses can be a life-changing way to address your vision concerns. With how essential your vision is to your day-to-day life, allowing you to see the world with perfect clarity and precision, utilizing any form of vision protection can make your life much easier. However, what happens if your glasses are too strong? How […]
While dry eyes and eye allergies were once thought of as separate conditions, data has shown there is a seasonal link between allergies and dry eyes. Researchers have found 3 interesting details linking seasonal allergies and dry eyes: Both pollen levels and dry eye cases reach a yearly peak in April Seasonal spikes of dry […]
Blepharitis is a common eye condition caused by inflammation in your eyelids. The condition can cause many uncomfortable symptoms, but fortunately, it is not contagious. Blepharitis is most commonly caused by a buildup of bacteria at the base of your eyelashes and cannot be spread from person to person. While blepharitis typically does not cause […]
Dry eye disease can cause a burning or gritty sensation in the eyes, among other symptoms. There are many different causes of dry eye, but fortunately, there are also many options available for dry eye therapy. One of these options is getting prescription glasses with special qualities that can help address the causes of dry […]
Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses are two correction methods for myopia, but neither is really better than the other. Rather, each has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, contact lenses could make a good option for someone with a job requiring safety eyewear. Alternatively, eyeglasses will likely be the better choice for someone with chronically […]
If you’ve recently noticed your vision becoming cloudier or more sensitive to bright lights, you may have developed cataracts. Cataracts are something that almost everyone will deal with at some point in their life. Cataracts are a cloudy buildup in your eye that can obscure your vision, making it more difficult to see things clearly, […]
Your comprehensive eye exam is often the first touchpoint we have to gain insights into your eye health and make recommendations to ensure you have clear and comfortable vision. During your exam, we can make recommendations based on your unique personalized eye care needs. An eye exam is crucial to evaluating your fit for contact […]
If your eyes are constantly irritated and you feel like something is stuck inside them no matter how much you rub, you may have dry eye disease. Although dry eye can be painful, it’s also manageable if you understand what’s causing your dry eye. If left untreated, dry eye can reduce your quality of life, […]
Choosing the frame for your glasses is important, but selecting the right lenses is crucial. Eyeglasses have long been a popular choice for vision correction, even with the availability of alternatives such as contact lenses or eye surgery. For many individuals, eyeglasses remain the preferred option due to their ease of use, convenience, and versatility […]
Contact lenses are an excellent alternative to glasses. A frequently overlooked fact is that not all patients use contact lenses as their primary means of vision correction. Each patient is unique, with some only wearing contact lenses on weekends, special occasions, or for sports. That is the allure of contact lens wear: the freedom it […]
The advancements in vision care have shown themselves in many ways, from specialty lenses for your glasses to specialized contact lenses for your unique visual needs. Laser eye surgery is another option that can help clear up your vision and addresses refractive errors. Laser eye surgery can serve several functions, including correcting refractive errors. Let’s […]
Children’s Eye Exams A child’s first anything can be an exciting event. First tooth, first haircut, first steps—but what about their first eye exam? Many childhood milestones can be achieved at the child’s pace—but health checkups usually have recommended timelines to help ensure the child’s success. A child’s first comprehensive eye exam is more than […]
Your glasses may be providing you with clear vision right now, but when should you be visiting your optometrist for a new prescription? Continue reading to learn more about your glasses prescription, including how often you should change it. Understanding Your Eyeglass Prescription Approximately 3 out of 4 Americans need corrective lenses, requiring them to […]
You may have received your first eyeglasses prescription when you were a kid or as recently as a few years ago. Your optometrist will have tested your eyes to fully understand your vision needs and how they can help you manage them. If it’s been a few years since your last visit, you may be […]
Bettner Vision is conveniently located in the Marketplace at Briargate, on the corner of North Union Boulevard and Family Place. You can find us beside Sushi Rakkyo and the T-Mobile store.
