Dry Eye

Dry Eye at OMEG

At Oklahoma Medical Eye Group you will find answers for a condition that so many Oklahomans suffer from: dry eye.  Many people do not realize that dry eye is a progressive and complex condition.  It can interrupt the health of your eyes and degrade your vision. Dry eye warrants a complete work up and individualized treatment plan.

African American woman taking off glasses, feel eye strain, massaging nose bridge, tired female feeling discomfort after long wearing glasses at workplace, work with computer, bad eye vision close up

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a progressive inflammatory condition caused by a problem in the tear film.  This tear film is an important layer that coats the outer portion of the eye and contributes to vision clarity and comfort.  

The tear film has three main components: a lipid (oil) layer, an aqueous (water) layer, and a mucin layer. Deficiencies in any one of these layers can worsen dry eye disease.

Illustrated diagram of tear film

Two Main Types of Dry Eye

Aqueous deficient dry eye

There are numerous reasons our lacrimal glands just do not make enough of the ‘water’ or aqueous part of the tears.  Systemic conditions, medications, autoimmune disease, age, etc can all contribute to the disease.  Having enough healthy tears is what maintains a clear healthy surface of the cornea.  Remember, this is the first surface that light encounters as it enters the eye – so a disrupted surface will cause vision problems and fluctuations, along with irritation, redness, and discomfort.

Evaporative dry eye

Evaporative dry eye is caused by inflamed or clogged meibomian glands.  On our eyelids, there are large oil glands that create the oil layer of the tear film.   That oil layer is responsible for keeping our tears on the surface of the eye.  Without it, the tears evaporate too quickly.  Dysfunction of the glands indicates chronic inflammation of the eyelids.  This condition is progressive and can become irreversible if not treated. 

It is important to properly diagnose what kind of dry eye you have because they are treated differently.  Many times, aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye can be found in the same patient.


Symptoms of a dry eye

  • Dryness, grittiness, or scratchiness
  • Soreness or irritation
  • Burning or watering
  • Eye fatigue
  • Blurry vision

Blinking is very important for the maintenance of the tear film. When performing activities such as reading or working on a computer, we blink less frequently, which can increase the symptoms of dry eyes. Environmental factors can also worsen dry eye symptoms including dry weather, wind, cigarette smoke, fumes, and dust.

Dry Eye Evaluation at OMEG

Smiling man and woman looking at laptop computer

Take Our Cataract Self-Test

Many people are unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision are so gradual, and the severity of cataracts vary from person to person. The loss of transparency may be mild, hardly impacting vision, or in some cases so severe that no shapes or movements are seen, only light and dark.

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Main Location

224 S Gateway Place
Suite 101
Jenks, OK 74037

918-747-2020

Bartlesville Office

3400 Southeast Frank Phillips Blvd
#202
Bartlesville, OK 74006

918-335-1515

South Tulsa

9999 S Mingo Rd
Suite M
Tulsa, OK 74133

918-747-2020