Four Things An Ophthalmologist May Be Able To Do For Your Dry Eye Problem

If you have a persistent problem with dry eyes, and you find little relief from over-the-counter medications, you need to consider making an appointment with an ophthalmologist. This is a medical doctor and is not to be confused with an optometrist who examines your eyes for the purpose of corrective lenses. As a medical doctor, an ophthalmologist can offer a variety of dry eye treatment options. The following are just a few of the possibilities.

Prescription eye drops

You may have had little success with what is available at your local drug store, but there are better eye drops for your condition that may help you. However, it will depend upon the reason for your problem. For example, if the dryness is due to inflammation of your cornea, there is a medicine to treat this. Sometimes the problem will be with the oil glands in the corners of your eye that are inflamed due to an infection. Eye drops containing an antibiotic may be prescribed for this.

Eyelid inserts

This option works on the same principle as eye drops, but you only do it once a day. The insert used is a solid material that is very small. Once a day, you place it underneath the bottom eyelid of each eye. Over the course of the day, it will dissolve and provide the lubrication your eyes are not getting.

Medication to stimulate your tear ducts

With some people, it is simply a matter of stimulating the tear ducts. This is done with a class of drugs called cholinergics. They come in various forms, but usually, they are delivered in a pill or as eye drops. You need only take it as prescribed, and your eyes will no longer be as dry.

Medical procedures

There are a wide range of procedures that can be done to your eyes, but which one you're a candidate for will depend upon the cause of your dryness. One example of a procedure is to unblock the oil glands. If this is the problem, the treatment is something you will be able to do at home with a warm compress. Another procedure is done with silicon plugs in your tear ducts. This procedure is helpful when the issue of dry eyes is due to your tears leaving too quickly from their ducts.

The treatments listed above for dry eye care are only a few of the options available. The first step is making an appointment with an ophthalmologist, so you can be examined. The doctor will then give you the options that are best suited for your dry eye problem.