WHAT IS DRY EYE?
Dry Eye is an extremely uncomfortable condition in which one or both of your eyes feel extremely irritated for extended periods of time. Literally millions of people have experienced “dry eye syndrome” (DES), as there are a number of common causes.
Environmental factors, eye injury, and even certain health conditions can cause DES, as can weather conditions (like wind), dry, cold winter air, and even high altitudes. The condition can develop after extended exposure to any of these factors, and usually prevents your eyes from lubricating properly. In some cases, the opposite happens, and eyes tear excessively. However, due to a change in the acidity of tears, the eyes continue to feel dry, scratchy, and itchy. In short, suffering with dry eye can be a miserable experience for anyone.
Dry eye syndrome is very common, especially in the older women. The condition is often triggered by a change in hormone levels during and after menopause, pregnancy, menstruation and from using birth control. The use of certain medications can also alter the eye’s ability to remain well lubricated, popular antihistamines and decongestants among them.
The severity and symptoms of dry eye vary from person to person, but they often include redness, a dry, scratchy feeling, tearing, eye discharge, and sensitivity to light.
BEST DRY EYE TREATMENT
Dry eye is a painful condition, and should not be taken lightly. If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the cornea and in extreme cases, even vision loss. Sometimes it can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, so it’s extremely important to have your eyes examined at the onset of this uncomfortable condition.
Thankfully, there are new treatment options available to help people suffering with dry eye. Here at Silverstein Eye Centers, we’re proud to offer PROKERA® for our patients.
This innovative treatment isn’t another eye drop or prescription medication, it’s a biologic corneal bandage that heals the surface of your eye (cornea) and returns your eye to a normal, healthy state with less pain, scarring and inflammation.
PROKERA® is similar to a contact lens, but is applied and removed in our office with a simple procedure. Once removed, the cornea is rejuvenated so you can see and feel better. In a recent patient survey, 93% of patients with Dry Eye said they felt better after treatment with PROKERA®.
PROKERA® is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared therapeutic device that reduces inflammation and promotes healing. Please visit www.prokerainfo.com to learn more about this innovative treatment, and contact our office to schedule a consultation. You don’t need to suffer with this uncomfortable condition!