A rising concern for our population is symptoms related to dry eye, or ocular surface disease. Forty percent of Americans suffer from occasional dry eye.  While the symptoms are often the same, the cause of those symptoms can vary greatly.

Symptoms & Effects

“Some of the most common symptoms of this issue are not what people expect,” says Dr. Sylte. “Watery eyes and fluctuating vision are two of the most common complaints people have with the root cause being related to some form of dry eye disease. In fact, the most common type of dry eye by far is not actually from producing too few tears, it is from producing a tear layer that does not function correctly. The vast majority of the time this is related to a condition where the glands in the eyelid responsible for making the oil layer of our tears are not doing their job.”

Causes of Dry Eye Disease

There are many different conditions and environmental factors that can cause dry eyes. Your tear ducts might be damaged or infected, or you could have problems like injuries or deformities on your eyelids. The condition can also occur when you spend too long in a dry or windy environment, take certain medications that decrease tear production, or wear contact lenses—especially if you aren't used to them or are wearing them incorrectly.

Treatment

Griebenow Eyecare and its doctors continuously advance their education and skills in order to remain on the cutting edge of eyecare. Consistently attending innovative educational seminars and adding the newest technology, Griebenow Eyecare’s optometrists Dr. Craig Sylte and Dr. Molly Benck continue to be on the forefront of eye health. And when it comes to dry eye management and treatment, the story is no different.

Griebenow Eyecare has the knowledge and invested in advanced equipment that allows the doctors to pinpoint the root causes of dry eye conditions, make a proper diagnosis and design a treatment plan to actually improve this condition instead of just using more lubricating drops which only temporarily make eyes feel better.

“Don’t settle for the same old treatment,” says Dr. Sylte. “Seek real answers and solutions to this common but frequently misdiagnosed and mistreated problem.”

If you have dry eyes or another eye disease in Clintonville, or New London, Wis., visit Griebenow Eyecare. Serving Outagamie and Waupaca counties for over 40 years, Dr. Griebenow and his team offer a full range of treatment options, including advanced laser vision correction. For dry eye, they can find and treat the cause, not just the symptoms. Call (800) 427-9585 to make an appointment, or visit the website to learn more about their services.