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Dry Eye Treatment Services

Dry Eye Expert in Lancaster, Ohio

Physicians, Optometrists, and Ophthalmologists from all over the area refer their challenging dry eye patients to Dr. Hopkins. She will recommend an evaluation which will allow her to determine the best treatment regimen for your specific condition. Not all dry eyes are the same, nor is the treatment. A comprehensive dry evaluation will assure long term eye health, better vision and all day comfort.

 

 

Dry Eye Services Near Bremen & Logan, OH

eye2When it comes to personalized care, no eye doctor in the Lancaster area can match the attention given by Dr. Hopkins. She is well known for her expertise, unwavering commitment to superb patient care, passion, and education in providing personalized eye care for dry eye patients.
The one characteristic that sets Dr. Hopkins apart from other eye care practitioners is that she neither avoids nor declines the challenge of most difficult patients. Dr. Hopkins has redefined and set the gold standard of care in the dry eye profession and is known as the expert by her peers.

 

You could have Dry Eye Syndrome if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

dry eye infographic - optometrist - eye care - Lancaster, Breman & Logan, OH

More Information on Dry Eyes

  • Dryness of the eye
  • Sandy or gritty feeling
  • Blurry vision
  • Burning or itching
  • Constant or occasional tearing
  • Fluctuating vision
  • Light sensitivity
  • Redness or styes
  • Tired Eyes
  • Eye pain or soreness
  • Contact lens discomfort
  • Red or Flaky Eyelids

What causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

  1. Poor tear production: Our tears are made up of three layers: oil, water, and mucin. If any of these are not produced in sufficient amounts, it can result in dryness or watering.
  2.  Blockage of oil glands: The eyelids have many small glands along the edges that produce the oil for the top layer of the tears. If these glands stay blocked, they will eventually die. This is one of the main causes of watery eyes. The oil layer keeps the tears from evaporating. Less oil means more evaporation, which means the eye has to water more to protect itself from damage.
  3.  Aging: Advancing age is the single most important risk factor for Dry Eye. Dry Eye Syndrome affects 75% of people over age 65.
  4. Women: Hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, lactation, oral contraception, menstruation, and post-menopause factors can cause Dry Eye Syndrome.
  5. Disease: Several diseases result as side effects of Dry Eye Syndrome: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes, Thyroid Abnormality, Asthma, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Lupus and Rosacea.
  6.  Medications: Certain medications can decrease the body’s ability to produce lubricating tears: Anti-Depressants, Decongestants, Antihistamines, Blood Pressure Medication, Oral Contraceptives, Diuretics, Ulcer Medication, Tranquilizers, Beta Blockers, and Incontinence Therapies.
  7. Computer and Video Game Users: Computer users spend hours staring at their monitors ignoring their normal blinking process, which is a vital function of tear production. Typically computer users’ blinking rate is decreased by 70%. If you use a computer for more than one hour a day, your eyes will be affected. Dry Eye Syndrome is now being diagnosed in children and young adults with increasing frequency due to increasing computer, cell phone, video game, and television use.
  8.  Environmental Conditions: Exposure to Smoke, Fluorescent Lights, Air Pollution, Wind, Heaters, Air Conditioning and Dry Climates can increase tear evaporation.
  9.  Contact Lenses: Dry Eye is the leading cause of contact lens discomfort or intolerance. Soft contacts in particular, rapidly evaporate the tears from the eye causing irritation, protein deposits, infection, and pain.
  10.  Refractive Surgery: Candidates considering refractive surgery (i.e. RK, PRK, LASIK, LTK) should consult their eyecare professionals regarding any dry eye risks associated with the procedure. 11) Allergies: Many Ohio residents are plagued with seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, the symptoms of allergies and dry eyes can be similar and they feed off of each other. This can make diagnosis and treatment a little tricky. In fact, most people don’t know if they suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome because it goes mostly undiagnosed and untreated.

Testing for Dry Eyes

keratograph_5m, eye doctor, Lancaster, OHDr. Hopkins will perform in-office diagnostic tests to evaluate the quality and quantity of your tears. General health, medications and environmental factors will be a consideration in diagnosing the type of dry eye you have. We will test to see if there is an inflammatory component that will respond to medicated eye drops.
Advanced Equipment: One test that we run that includes multiple dry-eye-related tests is the Keratograph 5M from Oculus. The OCULUS Keratograph® 5M is an advanced corneal topographer with a built-in real keratometer and a color camera optimized for external imaging of your eyes and eyelids. You will receive a report that will detail the causes and your personalized treatment program..

Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome

Depending on the type of dry eye you have and other medical conditions, Dr. Hopkins will prescribe, in proper sequence, the best method of treatment to give you all-day comfort, better vision, and overall eye health.

  • Asian Senior Elderly Man With Ring Serious Thinking And Worry Ab
    Red eye and dry eye syndrome are quite easily confused. Both conditions include itchy, red and dry-feeling eyes.
  • woman applying eyedroppers, close up
    It’s estimated that one out of every eight adults suffers to some extent from dry eye syndrome, which can range from mild to severe.
  • woman hands in heart 325×217
    One of the most common patient complaints during the winter months is dry eyes.  Dry Eye Evaluation and Treatment in Lancaster, OH
  • Senior Man Thinking Thumbnail
    Have you noticed that your eyes feel chronically dry, itchy, scratchy or even sometimes watery?
  • Thumbnail contacts senior
    If you are suffering from dry eyes that just won’t go away, you may have what is known as Dry Eye Syndrome – a condition in which the tears that lubricate and nourish the eye are not being produced sufficiently.
  • man poking eye with paper airp 325x217
    Many travelers experience dry eyes after extended travel by air. As our eye doctor in Lancaster, OH can explain during your next eye exam, the dry environment of a temperature- and pressure-controlled air plane cabin can take its toll on your eyes.