Dry Eye Treatment Kansas City - Wiles Eye Center

What Is Dry Eye?

Healthy eyes are continuously covered by fluid called the tear film. A stable tear film allows your eyes to maintain clear, comfortable and stable vision. Decreased production of tears from the lacrimal gland or an imbalance of the three layers of the tear film can cause dry spots on the surface of your eye. Symptoms of dry eye include burning, tearing and blurry vision.

Who is Likely to Develop Dry Eye?

While elderly people frequently experience dryness of the eyes, dry eye can occur at any age. Nearly 5 million Americans 50 years of age and older are estimated to have dry eye. Of these, more than 3 million are women and more than 1.5 million are men. Dry eye is more common among women after menopause. Women who experience menopause prematurely are more likely to have eye surface damage from dry eye.

How Do I Find Out if I Have Dry Eye Syndrome?

Only an eye doctor can determine if you have dry eye disease and help prescribe a dry eye treatment plan for you. At Wiles Eye Center, an accredited dry eye center, your doctor will ask a series of questions to determine your risk level for dry eye disease. In order to definitively diagnose your disease, the doctor may perform a TearLab® Osmolarity Test.