Find Soothing Relief for Uncomfortable Eyes

Dry eyes are an uncomfortable, irritating issue that many Americans experience. However, dry eye can also be a persistent problem that may require the help of a professional to manage.

Our team at Total Vision Pasadena is proud to help patients like you find soothing dry eye relief. With the tools, technologies, and techniques powered by Total Vision, we can take a deep look into the systems that support your eye comfort and provide strategies that address your unique needs and lifestyle.

We’re ready to help you—please book your eye dry eye appointment with us today!

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Why Your Tears Are Important

Much of your eye comfort depends on having a healthy, stable tear film. Your tear film covers the surface of your eyes and includes 3 unique ingredients that perform various functions. These ingredients include:

Mucus, which keeps your tear film adhered to your eye
Water, which hydrates your eye and washes away dirt and dust
Oil, which seals your tear film and prevents it from evaporating

There are 2 different types of dry eye: evaporative dry eye and aqueous tear deficiency. Aqueous tear deficiency occurs when your tear film doesn’t have enough water to hydrate your eyes. And evaporative dry eye develops when your tears evaporate too quickly because the tear film doesn’t have enough oil to prevent the tear film from evaporating.

Without intervention, dry eye can increase the risk of developing infections or damaging your cornea.

Causes

Everybody is different, so it’s important to determine what may be causing your symptoms before looking for relief strategies. Some common causes include:

Aging
Medications
Overall health conditions
Eye strain
Allergies
Laser eye surgery complications
Contact lens complications

Symptoms

Before we can start managing your dry eyes, we first need to identify the symptoms you may be experiencing. Your symptoms could also help our team determine which type of dry eye you have.

Wateriness
Redness
Irritation
Grittiness
Scratchiness
Burning
Light sensitivity
Mucus discharge
Blurry vision

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

One of the most common causes of dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction.

Meibomian glands are located around the edges of your eyelid and are responsible for producing the oils that prevent your tear film from evaporating. However, dirt, residue, or contact lens wear can affect your meibomian glands and how they produce oil.

Without oil, your tear film may evaporate too quickly and lead to dry eye symptoms. In some cases, it may also lead to other issues like blepharitis or styes.

Managing Dry Eye

You deserve comfortable, hydrated vision. Using modern techniques and technology, we can take a deeper look at your eye comfort and determine what may be causing your dry eye symptoms.

We personalize our approach to fit your needs using a wealth of strategies. Click on each title to learn more about each of these common strategies.

Eye Drops

We can recommend various eye drops to help stabilize your tear film and provide dry eye relief. However, we recommend speaking to our team before purchasing any over-the-counter eye drop products, as they may use ingredients not suitable for your eyes.

Lifestyle Changes

You can adjust your lifestyle in several ways to help support your eye comfort. These adjustments can include:

Adding a humidifier to your room or office
Avoiding dust, wind, and smoke
Taking regular breaks from visually-demanding tasks
Facing away from air conditioners, fans, and furnace registers

Medications

We may recommend medications to help stimulate the production of certain ingredients used in your tear film. For example, omega-3 supplements can help encourage oil production from your meibomian glands, managing the effects of evaporative dry eye.