Dry eye is a condition that’s easily treatable. Many people avoid getting treatment because they believe insurance won’t pay for it.
This is not always the case, though, as dry eye may be part of some insurance plans. It depends on your individual insurance.
It will also likely involve a copay, as well as prescription costs if you need medicated eye drops. You can check on our website to see our accepted insurance plans. You should also check with your provider to see if they include dry eye treatment.
How is Dry Eye Treated?
Successful dry eye treatment depends on the individual’s needs. The condition can stem from two sources: a low quantity of tears or tears that are of low quality.
Tears are important to healthy eye function and maintenance. If your eyes aren’t receiving enough hydration or nourishment, it’s not good.
There’s treatment available if you have low-quality tears. The same is true is you aren’t producing enough tears as well.
Steroid Eye Drops
If you suffer from dry eye due to a low amount of tears, one way to treat it is through steroid eye drops. Normally, eye drop only lubricates the eyes.
With prescription strength drops, inflammation can also reduce underlying inflammation issues. These may be the source of your dry eye.
The use of these drops must be discussed with your eye doctor thoroughly. There are possible negative side effects of using them.
Punctal Plugs
Another dry eye treatment is punctal plugs. These plugs are a treatment inserted into your eyes. They block tears from escaping, forcing them to remain on the surface of the eyes.
This lets the tears nourish your eyes as they should. Inserting punctal plugs is fast, easy, and painless. They are easy to remove if your eyes become too watery as well.
Sometimes, temporary punctal plugs that dissolve will first be placed in. These last a short amount of time- only long enough to determine if they are solving your dry eye problem or not.
Why are my eyes dry?
There are three components that make up tears. These are water, mucus, and oil. Each component has a specific purpose.
If your tears are of low quality, that likely means that your eyes are not producing enough oil. This oil is important, as it coats the tears and prevents them from evaporating.
If tears evaporate too quickly, your eyes won’t receive the nourishment they need.
Meibomian gland expression therapy
The reason oil isn’t produced is that the meibomian glands become blocked up. This is usually blocked with a waxy deposit.
This wax is removed with meibomian gland therapy which uses gentle pulses and heat to break up the wax. The therapy is often described as relaxing. It is quite effective if clogged oil glands are your problem.
There is no way to tell what is causing your dry eye on your own. Schedule an appointment in Fort Myers, FL at Frantz EyeCare to learn more! Aren’t you ready to say goodbye to your dry eye symptoms?
