If your eyes burn, itch, feel gritty, water constantly, or leave you squinting at the end of the day, you are likely dealing with dry eye syndrome, and you are not alone. Dry eye is one of the most common conditions Dr. Perez treats at Chinook Eye Center, and it is especially prevalent here on the Hi-Line where the wind rarely stops, humidity is low, and the climate demands a lot from your eyes.
Dry eye occurs when your eyes either do not produce enough tears or produce tears that evaporate too quickly to keep the eye surface properly lubricated. Your tear film is a complex three-layer structure, consisting of an oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and a mucous inner layer, and problems with any layer can cause dry eye symptoms.
Common contributing factors include:
Effective dry eye treatment starts with understanding why your eyes are dry. Dr. Perez does not prescribe a generic drop and send you home. He conducts a thorough evaluation that includes:
Dr. Perez builds a treatment plan matched to the specific type and severity of your dry eye. Treatment may include one or more of the following approaches:
Medications like Restasis or Xiidra target the inflammatory component of dry eye disease, increasing your natural tear production over time. These are not the same as over-the-counter drops. They treat the underlying condition, not just the symptoms.
Tiny, painless inserts placed in the tear drainage channels of your lower eyelids. They slow tear drainage so your natural tears stay on the eye surface longer, providing sustained moisture throughout the day.
An in-office procedure where Dr. Perez manually clears blocked meibomian glands, restoring healthy oil flow to the tear film. This directly addresses evaporative dry eye at its source.
Dr. Perez developed a particular interest in dry eye care because it is so prevalent in arid, windy climates, and few places fit that description better than northern Montana. Whether you spend your days in a tractor cab, behind a computer, or on the open road, the Hi-Line environment puts constant demand on your tear film. Dr. Perez stays current on the latest dry eye research and treatment options so he can offer you solutions that actually work in the conditions you live and work in.
You do not have to live with burning, gritty, watery eyes. Call Chinook Eye Center at (406) 357-3740 to schedule your dry eye evaluation at our Chinook office.