Dry Eye Treatment in the Des Moines Metro Area

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Find Relief from the Irritation of Dry Eye Disease

Sometimes nothing feels as uniquely irritating as the sensation of persistent dry eyes! Though some instances of dry eyes are fleeting (but annoying), it becomes a more pressing problem when the issue is chronic. 

As with all your optical needs, we’re here to help, so please call us today!

What Is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye disease describes the condition where your tears are unable to properly lubricate your eyes. This can be due to poor tear quality or too few tears.

When we blink, our lids spread tears across the surface of our eyes, providing a fresh wash of relief and removing any debris. With unreliable lubrication, even blinking can be irritating!

Symptoms of dry eye disease include:

  • Redness
  • Stinging, scratching, or burning sensations
  • Light sensitivity
  • Watery eyes
  • Stringy mucus near the eye
  • Blurry vision

Understanding Your Tears & Their Importance

Tears are a crucial part of your eye’s functioning, and you produce them constantly. 

Onions and tears probably have a strong connection in your mind. Did you know tears, just like onions, have layers? 3 layers, in fact!

  • The inner mucus layer helps your tears adhere to the surface of the eye.
  • The watery middle layer makes up the bulk of your tears and keeps the eye hydrated and clean, and protects the cornea.
  • The oily outer layer keeps the surface of the eye smooth and makes sure your tears stay on your eye.

If the equilibrium of your tears is thrown off, it can result in dry eye disease.

What Causes Dry Eye Disease?

There are a host of reasons dry eye disease occurs. Among the most common are:

  • Aging
  • Medications
  • Environmental factors
  • Hormonal changes
  • Refractive eye surgeries

Whatever causes your dry eye disease, we’re prepared to find a way to treat it.

Our Dry Eye Treatments

Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are a viable option in treating dry eye disease. These specialty lenses sit on the sclera of the eye, vaulting over the cornea and creating a fluid reservoir.

Please talk to your optometrist to see if scleral lenses are suitable for easing your dry eye symptoms.

Restasis drops are designed to encourage proper tear production and provide relief from chronic dry eye symptoms. Appropriate use can show a significant change in tear production in as little as 6 months!

Please book an appointment with our caring team and get your eyes back to feeling refreshed!

Our Locations

Altoona

  • 1005 8th St SW, Suite A.
  • Altoona, IA 50009

Johnston

  • 5501 NW 86th St., Suite 500
  • Johnston, IA 50131

Our Blog

Why Does Driving at Night Get More Difficult as You Age?

Eye Health

Driving at night can be difficult at any age, especially if you have a preexisting vision problem. Between glare, difficulty seeing in the dark, or a delayed reaction time, it can be difficult to do so safely. But why does it become more difficult as you age? As you get older, your eyesight naturally gets […]

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May 10, 2023
Jeff Neighbors

How Long Does an Eye Exam Take?

Eye Health

How long will your eye exam be? An eye exam typically takes between 20 and 60 minutes, but certain factors can affect the duration of your appointment, such as your eye health and any potential risks for eye diseases.  What Happens During an Eye Exam?  During a comprehensive eye exam, your vision care practitioner must […]

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April 4, 2023
Jeff Neighbors

How to Clean Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses

An inevitable part of wearing eyeglasses is that, eventually, they will get dirty. You’ll smudge the lens with a fingerprint, or maybe you’ll splash water on them. As tempting as a quick breath and wipe from your t-shirt is, that’s not an ideal way to clean them. A gentle wash with warm water and soap […]

Read More…

April 4, 2023
Jeff Neighbors
A senior man in the driver's seat of a car with a senior woman in the passenger seat, both with a concerned look on their faces

Driving at night can be difficult at any age, especially if you have a preexisting vision problem. Between glare, difficulty seeing in the dark, or a delayed reaction time, it can be difficult to do so safely. But why does it become more difficult as you age? As you get older, your eyesight naturally gets […]

Read More…

"An optometrist performing an eye examination on a man using a specialized medical device while holding a lens up to the man's eye."

How long will your eye exam be? An eye exam typically takes between 20 and 60 minutes, but certain factors can affect the duration of your appointment, such as your eye health and any potential risks for eye diseases.  What Happens During an Eye Exam?  During a comprehensive eye exam, your vision care practitioner must […]

Read More…

A close-up of hands cleaning black-colored frame eyeglasses with a cleaning spray and a microfiber.

An inevitable part of wearing eyeglasses is that, eventually, they will get dirty. You’ll smudge the lens with a fingerprint, or maybe you’ll splash water on them. As tempting as a quick breath and wipe from your t-shirt is, that’s not an ideal way to clean them. A gentle wash with warm water and soap […]

Read More…

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