Dry Eye Care in Jackson, MS

What Are Dry Eyes?

If your eyes feel dry, scratchy, sore, watery, tired, or burn, it’s possible you have dry eyes. The typical causes include:

• The aging process
• Wearing contact lenses
• Certain medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics, beta-blockers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and pain relievers; sometimes alcohol may also have this effect
• Environment
• For women, menopause, and pregnancy
• Computer use, long-term reading, or other activities requiring concentration
• Poor blink response

How is Dry Eye Disease Diagnosed & Treated?

Our doctors may use a combination of methods to determine if you have dry eyes, which include:

• Eye drops, which contain a dye to aid in finding any dry spots
• Osmolarity testing to help determine the severity of dry eye
• Temporary closing of tear ducts, done by inserting small dissolvable plugs into your tear ducts to prevent tear drainage and allow tears to build up and bathe the eyes. If you get relief during this test, we may recommend permanent closure of your tear ducts.

For patients with less severe dry eye symptoms, short-term relief may be possible with prescription eye drops or artificial tears.

Long-term relief may be accomplished with punctal plugs which are permanent, yet removable tear duct plugs. Punctal plugs have a high rate of success and can be inserted easily and painlessly. They are tiny, non-dissolvable plugs inserted in your tear drainage ducts (puncta) where they act as a dam, so your natural tears have nowhere to go but onto the surface of your eyes.