Suffering from Dry Eyes in Plano and Celina?


A case of dry eyes may not sound like anything to see your eye doctor about, but you might be surprised at the complications this annoying issue can cause if left untreated. Inadequate or abnormal tear film can make the eyes vulnerable to inflammation, scarring, ulcerations and other conditions, possibly leading to some degree of permanent vision loss. Fortunately, once the underlying cause of dry eyes is found, there are several eye care measures that can help. Here at Lone Star Vision, our eye doctor offers dry eye diagnosis and treatment for our Plano and Celina patients.

Your eyes would be dry all the time if not for the tear ducts’ ability to sustain a delicately balanced tear film that covers the surface of the eye. Tear fluid production is triggered every time the eye blinks. This substance is more than just salty water — it’s actually composed of three distinct layers:

  • Aqueous – This is the water component that makes up the bulk of your tear production.
  • Mucin – This substance, which lies beneath the aqueous layer, helps distribute the tear film evenly over the cornea
  • Lipid – An outer layer of lipids (oils) helps seal in the tear film’s moisture by preventing rapid evaporation.

Results of Ignoring Causes of Dry Eyes

If the ratio of these three substances becomes unbalanced, you may suffer from dry even if you produce plenty of tears. You can also suffer from dry eyes if your tear film is properly balanced but your tear ducts simply aren’t making enough of it. A variety of issues can create this scenario, including:

  • Computer vision syndrome – If your job involves staring at a computer screen all day long, chances are that you aren’t blinking frequently enough to maintain your tear film.
  • Auto-immune diseases – Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and related disorders can cause chronic eye and mouth dryness.
  • Tear gland issues – Malfunctioning or damaged tear glands may not be able to keep up normal tear production
  • Medications – Antihistamines, hypertension drugs and certain other medications may affect your ability to make tears
  • Wind exposure – Windy environments, either indoors or outdoors, can dry the eyes.

Dry Eye Care for Plano and Celina Residents

It’s important to isolate the underlying cause of your dry eyes so we can recommend the correct course of eye doctor eye care. Our experienced team will evaluate your medical history to determine whether an illness or drug regimen may be responsible. We will also examine the tear ducts themselves to check for abnormalities. Last but not least, we can evaluate your tears for quantity and chemical balance. Based on this information, we may prescribe eye drops or other medications, or we may recommend eye doctor eye care best practices such as taking more breaks at work or avoiding ceiling fans and other wind sources.

If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (972) 378-4104 (Plano) or (972) 382-2020 (Celina).