Can dry eye syndrome be prevented?

While dry eye syndrome can’t always be prevented, several habits substantially lower your risk. Stay well hydrated, wear wraparound sunglasses in windy or dusty environments, take regular screen breaks (the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds), and use a humidifier in winter. Some medications including antihistamines and certain antidepressants worsen dry eye — ask your doctor about alternatives if you’re symptomatic.

Is dry eye syndrome serious?

Mild dry eye is usually manageable, but untreated moderate-to-severe dry eye can lead to real complications including corneal abrasions, recurrent eye infections, scarring, and chronic discomfort that affects daily activities. Dry eye is also strongly linked to systemic conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease. Persistent symptoms warrant a professional evaluation so the underlying cause can be identified and addressed.

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

There is no permanent cure for chronic dry eye, but it can be very effectively managed. Most patients achieve substantial relief through a combination of personalized treatments — prescription drops, in-office procedures like intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and addressing any underlying conditions. Many find their symptoms become rare and mild with the right treatment plan and consistent follow-through.

What causes dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye has many causes, often combined. The most common are aging (tear production declines after 50), screen use (we blink 60% less while staring at screens), meibomian gland dysfunction (the oil glands in the eyelids stop functioning properly), autoimmune conditions, certain medications, hormonal changes, contact lens wear, and dry or windy environments. Identifying which causes apply to you is the first step in effective treatment.

Can I wear contact lenses if I have dry eye?

Many dry eye patients can still wear contact lenses comfortably, but the lens type matters significantly. Daily disposable lenses, high-oxygen-permeability materials, and properly fit scleral lenses (which actually vault over the cornea in a fluid reservoir) often work well. Standard soft lenses worn long-term frequently make dry eye worse. A dry eye evaluation before fitting helps us choose lenses that improve rather than aggravate symptoms.

What's the difference between artificial tears and prescription dry eye drops?

Artificial tears provide temporary lubrication to relieve symptoms — they replace what your eyes lack at that moment. Prescription drops like Restasis, Xiidra, Cequa, and Tyrvaya work differently: they reduce the underlying inflammation that’s causing your eyes to produce poor-quality tears. Artificial tears address symptoms; prescription drops address the disease. Many patients use both, with the goal of needing artificial tears less over time as the prescription drops take effect.

How is dry eye actually diagnosed?

A proper dry eye diagnosis goes beyond asking about symptoms. We use meibography to image your eyelid oil glands, measure your tear film osmolarity (saltiness), check for inflammation with tests like InflammaDry, evaluate tear break-up time, and examine your ocular surface under high magnification. This identifies which subtype of dry eye you have — evaporative, aqueous-deficient, or both — which directly determines what treatments will work for you.

When should I see a doctor about dry eye?

See an eye doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks despite using over-the-counter artificial tears, if you have a burning or gritty sensation most days, if your vision fluctuates or blurs throughout the day, if light sensitivity is interfering with daily tasks, or if you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Early evaluation prevents complications and gives you the best chance of significant symptom relief.

Michigan's Dry Eye Specialists

Find Lasting Relief from Dry Eye Syndrome

Causes and Treatments for Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes cannot produce sufficient tears or maintain a stable tear film, leading to dryness, redness, and discomfort.

The symptoms may range from a mild gritty sensation to more severe issues like eye strain, difficulty with contact lenses, light sensitivity, and even visual disturbances. If left untreated, it can potentially harm the cornea and impair vision.

Common Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

There are many reasons why dry eye syndrome occurs, such as:

Aging: Tear production declines with age, leading to dryness.
Hormonal Changes: Women face a higher risk due to hormonal shifts during menopause, pregnancy, or when using birth control pills.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to dry air, wind, or dust can aggravate symptoms.
Health Conditions: Disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome are known contributors.
Medications: Certain medications, including antihistamines and antidepressants, may lead to dry eye symptoms.
Contact Lenses: Long-term contact lens use can irritate the eyes and cause dryness.
Eyelid Problems: Issues like incomplete eyelid closure can prevent proper lubrication.
Dietary Deficiency: Lacking essential nutrients like omega-3s can increase the risk of dry eyes.
Lack of Hydration: Not drinking enough water can result in dehydration and dry eyes.

Advanced Dry Eye Treatments in Southfield, MI

At Michigan Contact Lens, we offer a range of cutting-edge treatments to combat dry eye and restore eye health. These therapies are designed to address the specific causes of dry eye, ensuring a targeted and effective approach.

After a thorough Eye Exam, our highly skilled dry eye specialists build a plan around the cause rather than the symptom, and our payment options make starting straightforward will provide a personalized plan, which may include:

BlephEx

BlephEx is a gentle exfoliation procedure for the eyelids, designed to remove oil buildup, debris, and bacteria that may worsen dry eye symptoms.

Lipiflow®

Lipflow uses a precise combination of heat and pressure to unclog the meibomian glands, ensuring better oil flow in tears. This advanced treatment reduces dryness and irritation while improving tear production and quality.

Thermal Pulsation

Thermal pulsation uses targeted heat and pressure to encourage healthy oil production in the meibomian glands. This therapy improves tear composition, reducing discomfort and providing lasting relief from dry eye.

Scleral Lenses

Designed to fit precisely over the cornea and conjunctiva, scleral lenses keep the eyes hydrated by creating a moisture-rich environment. This effectively reduces dryness and itchiness, providing relief and enhanced comfort.

Watch this video here

Finding the cause before choosing a treatment

Dry eye is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the treatments below work on different causes. Starting with the wrong one is the usual reason people say they have tried everything and nothing helped.

A tear film evaluation looks at how quickly the tear film breaks up and whether the shortage is watery tear, oil, or a lid-margin problem. Meibomian gland dysfunction — blocked oil glands along the lid margin — is the most common finding, which is why so much of what follows is aimed at the glands rather than at adding drops.

Two things surprise people. Watery eyes are often a dry eye symptom rather than the opposite of one, and dry eye can blur vision, which is why it is sometimes mistaken for a change in prescription.

For the short version first: what causes dry eye, and when to see a dry eye specialist.

IPL (intense pulsed light)

IPL for dry eye applies light pulses to the skin around the lids, targeting the inflammation and the vessels associated with meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular rosacea. It is a course of sessions rather than a single visit. See also how IPL is helping dry eye patients, IPL for rosacea, and whether IPL is covered by insurance.

Low-level light therapy

LLLT uses light at lower energies than IPL to warm and soften gland blockages, and is often paired with it in the same visit.

Punctal plugs

Punctal plugs are small inserts placed in the tear drainage ducts so that the tears you do make stay on the eye longer. They suit aqueous-deficient dry eye rather than gland blockage, which is part of why the evaluation comes first.

Autologous serum drops

For severe cases, autologous serum eye drops are prepared from a patient’s own blood serum, and are used where standard drops have not been enough.

What you can do between visits

Warm compresses soften blocked oils and cold ones calm irritation — choosing the right eye compress explains which to reach for, and cold eye compresses covers the other half. If your eyes are worse by the afternoon, start with dry eye and screen use. On drops, the best eye drops for Sjögren’s dry eye goes through the categories, and three ways to treat dry eye syndrome is a plain summary of the options.

Eyelid rosacea is worth reading if the skin around your lids flushes or stings, because the lid margin and the skin are usually treated together.

If you wear contact lenses

Dry eye and contact lenses are not mutually exclusive, and the lens is sometimes part of the answer rather than the cause. Can I wear contact lenses with dry eye syndrome is the honest version; the best contact lenses for dry eyes covers the materials and replacement schedules that matter.

Where the ocular surface needs protecting rather than only lubricating, scleral lenses for dry eyes hold a reservoir of saline against the cornea through the day. That is also the usual answer in Sjögren’s syndrome, and bandage contact lenses serve a related purpose for a damaged surface.

Cost, insurance, and where we are

How much dry eye treatment costs sets out what drives the figure, and whether IPL is covered by insurance deals with the question we are asked most. If you are nearby: dry eye specialist in Southfield, and in Birmingham.

How Michigan Contact Lens Helps Treat Dry Eye Syndrome?

At Michigan Contact Lens, we specialize in providing advanced care for chronic dry eye. Our goal is to alleviate your symptoms and improve your eye health through tailored treatment options.

Dr. Shira Kresch and our friendly team — equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment technology like IPL, RF, and LLLT — are dedicated to creating a care plan that’s just right for you, ensuring you receive the treatment and support needed for lasting relief.

For chronic and complex cases, Dr. Kresch also leads the affiliated 1-800-Dry-Eyes Specialty Vision Institute in Southfield — a dedicated dry eye clinic offering advanced IPL, radiofrequency, and low-level light therapy.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover how our eye specialists in Michigan can benefit you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Eye Syndrome

Can dry eye syndrome be prevented?: While dry eye syndrome can’t always be prevented, several habits substantially lower your risk. Stay well hydrated, wear wraparound sunglasses in windy or dusty environments, take regular screen breaks (the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds), and use a humidifier in winter. Some medications including antihistamines and certain antidepressants worsen dry eye — ask your doctor about alternatives if you’re symptomatic.
Is dry eye syndrome serious?: Mild dry eye is usually manageable, but untreated moderate-to-severe dry eye can lead to real complications including corneal abrasions, recurrent eye infections, scarring, and chronic discomfort that affects daily activities. Dry eye is also strongly linked to systemic conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease. Persistent symptoms warrant a professional evaluation so the underlying cause can be identified and addressed.
Can dry eye syndrome be cured?: There is no permanent cure for chronic dry eye, but it can be very effectively managed. Most patients achieve substantial relief through a combination of personalized treatments — prescription drops, in-office procedures like intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and addressing any underlying conditions. Many find their symptoms become rare and mild with the right treatment plan and consistent follow-through.
What causes dry eye syndrome?: Dry eye has many causes, often combined. The most common are aging (tear production declines after 50), screen use (we blink 60% less while staring at screens), meibomian gland dysfunction (the oil glands in the eyelids stop functioning properly), autoimmune conditions, certain medications, hormonal changes, contact lens wear, and dry or windy environments. Identifying which causes apply to you is the first step in effective treatment.
Can I wear contact lenses if I have dry eye?: Many dry eye patients can still wear contact lenses comfortably, but the lens type matters significantly. Daily disposable lenses, high-oxygen-permeability materials, and properly fit scleral lenses (which actually vault over the cornea in a fluid reservoir) often work well. Standard soft lenses worn long-term frequently make dry eye worse. A dry eye evaluation before fitting helps us choose lenses that improve rather than aggravate symptoms.
What's the difference between artificial tears and prescription dry eye drops?: Artificial tears provide temporary lubrication to relieve symptoms — they replace what your eyes lack at that moment. Prescription drops like Restasis, Xiidra, Cequa, and Tyrvaya work differently: they reduce the underlying inflammation that’s causing your eyes to produce poor-quality tears. Artificial tears address symptoms; prescription drops address the disease. Many patients use both, with the goal of needing artificial tears less over time as the prescription drops take effect.
How is dry eye actually diagnosed?: A proper dry eye diagnosis goes beyond asking about symptoms. We use meibography to image your eyelid oil glands, measure your tear film osmolarity (saltiness), check for inflammation with tests like InflammaDry, evaluate tear break-up time, and examine your ocular surface under high magnification. This identifies which subtype of dry eye you have — evaporative, aqueous-deficient, or both — which directly determines what treatments will work for you.
When should I see a doctor about dry eye?: See an eye doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks despite using over-the-counter artificial tears, if you have a burning or gritty sensation most days, if your vision fluctuates or blurs throughout the day, if light sensitivity is interfering with daily tasks, or if you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Early evaluation prevents complications and gives you the best chance of significant symptom relief.