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Dry Eye

Dry, irritated eyes shouldn’t slow you down. At St. Paul Eye Clinic, our doctors combine advanced diagnostics with personalized care to help you find lasting relief, comfort, and clear vision, every time. Voted Minnesota’s Best Eye Doctor in the StarTribune’s Minnesota’s Best Awards, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to look for damaged cells and dry spots on the surface of your cornea.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough quality tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to irritation, burning, redness, a gritty feeling, and fluctuating vision, symptoms that often worsen throughout the day.
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How do we detect dry eye?

We complete a thorough evaluation that checks tear production, tear quality, eyelid function, and the health of your ocular surface. With this information, your doctor can identify what’s causing your symptoms and recommend the right care.

Treatment Options

Dry eye care is personalized to your needs. Depending on your symptoms and tear film condition, treatment may begin with targeted therapies to calm inflammation and improve tear quality. For other patients, in-office procedures and tailored at-home routines can provide long-term relief. Your doctor will help you find the plan that brings you comfort and clearer vision.

DRY EYE FAQ

What To Expect

Your doctor at St. Paul Eye Clinic can usually diagnose dry eye by examining your eyes or running tests for dry eye.

Treatment of dry eyes usually begins with artificial tear drops. In certain cases your doctor may prescribe eye drops or conserve your tears by closing your tear drainage channels with punctal plugs or by using thermal cautery.

St. Paul Eye Clinic offers a variety of over the counter relief at our clinics, including dry eye vitamins, lid care items including lid scrubs, lid cleaners, and masks to help soothe the symptoms of dry eye.

You will find care that you will not find anywhere else... Nobody beats St. Paul Eye.
- LindaSt. Paul Eye Clinic Patient
It's a very comfortable group of providers, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
- BarbaraSt. Paul Eye Clinic Cataracts Patient
I'm so grateful for St. Paul Eye Clinic and being able to live without a lot of my tension headaches.
- LindseySt. Paul Eye Clinic Cosmetic Patient
I think since I had my surgery, I've probably recommended it to about three or four people that I know.
- JennaSt. Paul Eye Clinic LASIK Patient

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of dry eye?

Those affected by dry eye experience uncomfortable sensations. Symptoms include eyes that burn or feel gritty, itchy, or sticky. You might also experience blurred vision with prolonged reading or computer work.

Having dry eye also makes you more sensitive to environmental changes, such as wind, poor air quality, low humidity, and air conditioning. In addition, allergies and certain drugs, like antihistamines and oral contraceptives, contribute to dry eye.

  • Age: The risk of dry eye increases with age
  • Medications: A variety of medications, including blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and psychiatric medications, can reduce the ability to produce tears.
  • Eye Conditions: Certain medical conditions can cause dry eye or even a production of excess tears.
  • Environmental Conditions: Factors such as the weather, usually windy or low-humidity climates, promote dry eye.

Roseville Eye Clinic can diagnose dry eye through a comprehensive eye examination, where we measure, test, and evaluate the quantity and quality of tears produced by the eye. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to look for damaged cells and dry spots on the surface of your cornea.

We will also examine the position and function of your eyelids to make sure there are no problems with tear distribution. Many patients with dry eye can find welcome relief with artificial tears.

Roseville Eye Clinic will prescribe tear substitutes based on your individual needs. We also offer Restasis®, which is a safe, effective, FDA-approved medication that can increase tear production in chronic dry eye patients. In many cases, patients who have been unable to respond to other treatments have finally found welcome relief with Restasis.

Punctal plugs, which can be temporary or permanent, are another treatment option for patients with dry eye. After your comprehensive eye exam, we can determine if you’re a candidate for them. Punctal plugs are very small—about the size of a sesame seed—and are non-surgically inserted in just seconds right here at our office. Many patients report immediate relief from dry eye symptoms and can resume their normal activities.

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