Help for Red, Watery, Irritated EyesIf your eyes feel dry, red, and irritated, you may be experiencing dry eye symptoms. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! 

Dry eye is a common condition that affects millions globally and can be quite uncomfortable to deal with. At Sausalito Optometry, our team is here to help you soothe your dry eye so that you can get on with your day without any distractions. 
Make an appointment with our doctors today to learn more about dry eye and discuss our treatment options.
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What Is Dry Eye?​

Listed are the most common symptoms of dry eye.
​These symptoms could point to other eye conditions so it is important that you visit us if you are experiencing one or all of the symptoms on the list.

• Redness
• Stinging or burning
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery eyes
• Stringy mucus in eyes
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty wearing contacts
• Difficulty driving at night

Dry eye is a condition where the eye does not produce enough tears or enough quality tears on its own to properly lubricate the surface.
One main form of dry eye is evaporative, which is caused by a deficiency in the lipid tear film layer. The other, less common form of dry eye is an aqueous deficiency, in which the lacrimal glands produce fewer tears.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
One potential cause of dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction. This occurs when the meibomian glands don’t produce enough oil, or the oil is poor quality. This oil is important as it keeps the water on the eye from evaporating too quickly, keeping the eye moist.
​Blepharitis
Blepharitis occurs when there is inflammation of the eyelids, causing them to become red, itchy, and scaly in the eyelash area. This can be caused by bacteria or a condition of the skin and can cause the eye to become dry and irritated.

Symptoms & Risk Factors​

Not sure if you may be experiencing chronic dry eye or just allergies? Take a look at the risk factors and book an appointment with our team to get help determining what may be causing your discomfort.
Even if you are not experiencing any or all of the following dry eye symptoms or have any of the risk factors, keeping up with your comprehensive eye exams helps us understand if you may have dry eye or could develop it.

Here are a few factors that may make someone more susceptible to developing dry eye.

• You’re over 50
• You’re low in vitamin A or omega-3s
• You wear contacts or have had eye surgery
• You’re a biological female
• You’re on certain medications for blood pressure, decongestants, antidepressants, or antihistamines.
• You live in a dry environment

                                                   OptiLight by Lumenis​

OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, noninvasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye.
The first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.
The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

​Learn more on our OptiLight by Lumenis page.

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​Other Dry Eye Treatments

Depending on your particular dry eye concerns, we can tailor a treatment plan to fit your needs. We use a variety of strategies to help address and alleviate dry eye based on your individual case and preferences. 

We would be happy to discuss dry eye treatments that we offer, such as punctal plugs and medicated eye drops, at our practice with you at your next appointment.

​Punctal plugs are a dry eye treatment where tiny devices are placed in the tear duct to prevent the eye from draining its tears as it normally would. Punctual plugs can be either temporary or semi-permanent, so they may be a good option for a variety of dry eye conditions.
To help increase tear production, a treatment option may be using medicated eye drops prescribed by a doctor. If your dry eye is causing inflammation, there are also eye drops that can help to clear this up.

Warm Compresses, Lid Massages, & Your Eye Comfort ​

Relieve dry eyes, blepharitis, chalazions, and meibomian gland dysfunction with the power of warm compresses and lid massages! These techniques can help open up oil glands in your eyelid margin, restoring the flow of oils needed to keep your eyes comfortable.

If we recommend a warm compress for your treatment, please follow these steps before bed or in the morning to experience the benefits. For additional information, please speak to our team when you visit us for an appointment:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Soak a washcloth in warm water and wring out excess water. Alternatively, use a heated mask. Ensure that the water is not too hot to avoid burning your lids or face.
3. Close your eyes and place the warm washcloth on your eyelids for 30 seconds. 
4. Remove it, re-soak it in warm water, and repeat this step for 1–2 minutes.

Now that the hardened oil glands have melted, you can complete the final step. 

1. For the lower lid: Look up and use your finger to make a circular motion. Apply pressure on the oil glands along the lid margin, directly over the lashes in the center and on the sides. You can use a Q-Tip or your washcloth.

For the upper lid: Repeat step 5 with your eye closed.

Book an appointment to discuss dry eyes