Dry Eye Treatment in Boca Raton.
Relief from dry, burning, gritty eyes. Dry eye is one of the most under-diagnosed eye conditions, and one of the most treatable. We evaluate the cause, then build a plan that actually works for your eyes.
Dry Eye Is More Than 'My Eyes Feel Dry.'
Dry eye disease happens when your eyes don't produce enough tears, or when the tears you produce evaporate too quickly. It's very common, affecting millions of Americans every year, and long hours on screens can make it worse.
South Florida's climate doesn't help: sunshine, breeze, and constant air conditioning all dry the ocular surface. Add in screen time, contact lens wear, or certain medications, and many patients have symptoms for years before getting a diagnosis.
The good news: dry eye is one of the most treatable eye conditions when properly evaluated. We figure out which kind you have, aqueous-deficient (not enough tears) or evaporative (poor-quality tears, usually from meibomian gland dysfunction), and build a plan that targets the actual cause. Not sure if it's dry eye or something else? See pink eye vs. allergy eye and red, itchy, watery eyes in kids.
Healthy tears have three layers. The outer oil layer comes from the meibomian glands in the eyelids and keeps tears from drying up too quickly. The middle water layer comes from the lacrimal glands, and the inner mucus layer, made in the conjunctiva, spreads the tears across the eye.[1]
The international dry eye experts at TFOS DEWS II describe dry eye as a loss of balance in the tear film, with an unstable tear film, inflammation, and damage to the eye's surface. They also note that the two types overlap, so many people have some of both.[2]
If Any of These Sound Familiar, You May Have Dry Eye
Burning or Stinging
A persistent burn, often worse late in the day, with screen use, or in air conditioning.
Gritty, Sandy Feeling
The sensation that something is in your eye, even when nothing is there.
Watery Eyes (Paradoxically)
When eyes are dry, they overcompensate with reflex tearing, so 'watery eyes' is often a dry eye symptom.
Blurry Vision That Clears With Blinking
Your tear film is the first surface light hits. When it's unstable, vision fluctuates.
Light Sensitivity
Discomfort in bright light or with screens. Often comes with dry eye and digital strain.
Tired, Heavy Eyes
Eyes that feel like they need rest after focused work like reading, driving, or screens.
Common Causes We See
- Age-related changes to tear production
- Screen use (reduced blink rate)
- Contact lens wear
- Hormonal changes (especially during and after menopause)
- Autoimmune conditions (Sjögren’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease)
- Medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medications)
- South Florida climate: sun, wind, and air conditioning all dry the ocular surface
- Post-LASIK or post-cataract-surgery dry eye
The National Eye Institute lists being 50 or older, being female, and wearing contact lenses as risk factors, and notes that lots of time on a computer, tablet, or phone can cause dry eye too.[3] Screens matter because we blink less while we look at them: about 15 times a minute normally, but only 5 to 7 times a minute on a digital device.[4]
Dry Eye Isn't Just an Adult Problem
Most dry eye pages are written for adults. Because this is a pediatric and family practice, I look for it in children and teens too, and they rarely use the words "dry eye." They tell me their eyes burn, feel tired, or hurt after homework, or they just keep rubbing them.
In a study of 916 elementary school children, 6.6% had dry eye. It was more common in older grades and in city kids, and longer daily smartphone use was strongly linked to it, while time outdoors appeared protective. When the children with dry eye stopped using smartphones for four weeks, both their symptoms and the signs on their eye exams improved.[5]
Teens new to contact lenses are another group I watch closely, since lens wear is a known risk factor. Here is more on contact lens discomfort in kids and screen time and kids' eyes.
What Happens at a Dry Eye Evaluation
A dry eye visit is about finding the cause, not just handing you a bottle of drops. Here is what to expect:
- Your story. When your eyes bother you, how much time you spend on screens, contact lens habits, allergies, and the medications you take.
- A close look at the eye's surface. I examine your eyelids, lashes, and the front of the eye under the microscope.
- Tear film evaluation. How steady your tears are, and a harmless yellow dye that shows dry spots on the surface of the eye.
- Meibomian gland evaluation. A gentle check of the oil glands along the lid margin, the most common source of evaporative dry eye.
- Contact lens check. If you wear lenses, I look at the fit and the lens type, since a change of lens can make a big difference.
- A written plan. You leave knowing which type of dry eye you have, what to do at home, and when we will check your progress.
When It's Not Routine: A red, painful eye in a contact lens wearer, eye pain with light sensitivity, or blurry vision that doesn't clear when you blink should be seen the same day. Sudden vision loss or severe eye pain belongs in the emergency room. See urgent eye care.
Treatment Options We Offer
Targeted Artificial Tears
Not all over-the-counter drops are equal. We recommend the right formulation for your specific type of dryness: aqueous-deficient vs. evaporative.
Warm Compress & Lid Hygiene
Clogged meibomian glands in the eyelids are a common cause of dry eye. Daily warm compresses and lid cleansing make a big difference for many patients.
Prescription Dry Eye Therapy
Restasis, Xiidra, Cequa, Miebo, and other prescription options can dramatically improve chronic dry eye when over-the-counter drops aren’t enough.
Punctal Plugs
Tiny devices that block tear drainage, keeping your natural tears on the eye longer. Quick, comfortable in-office procedure.
Omega-3 Supplementation
Specific high-quality omega-3 supplements have evidence behind them for improving the oil layer of the tear film.
Lifestyle & Environmental Changes
Screen breaks (the 20-20-20 rule), humidifiers, hydration, avoiding ceiling-fan airflow at night: small changes that add up.
Most Dry Eye Visits Use Medical Insurance
A comprehensive dry eye evaluation includes an ocular surface assessment, tear film evaluation, meibomian gland evaluation, and a written treatment plan.
Because dry eye is a medical eye-health condition (not just a vision problem), most evaluations are covered by medical insurance rather than vision insurance. Treatments such as punctal plugs are typically also covered. See our insurance & payment options →
Without insurance? Call us and we'll arrange a self-pay visit through our sister practice, Vision & Learning Center.
Dry Eye Questions
Is dry eye treatment covered by insurance?
Usually by medical insurance rather than vision insurance, because dry eye is an eye-health condition and not just a vision problem. Treatments such as punctal plugs are typically covered too. Without insurance? Call us and we'll arrange a self-pay visit through our sister practice, Vision & Learning Center. See our insurance and payment options.
Why are my eyes so dry when Florida is so humid?
Humidity does not prevent dry eye. In South Florida, constant air conditioning, ceiling fans, sun, wind, and pool time all dry the surface of the eye. Add hours of screen time, which lowers how often we blink, plus contact lenses or allergies, and symptoms can build for years before anyone calls it dry eye. Read about dry eye in South Florida.
Can watery eyes really be dry eye?
Yes. When the surface of the eye is irritated, it overcompensates with reflex tearing, so watery eyes are often a dry eye symptom. The tear film can still be unstable even while tears are running. Burning, a gritty or sandy feeling, and blurry vision that clears when you blink are other common signs worth getting checked.
Can children have dry eye?
Yes. In my practice I see children, teens, and adults for dry eye. Kids often describe it differently, as burning, eye pain, tired eyes, watery eyes, blurry vision, or discomfort with screens. If your child has these symptoms often, especially with contact lenses or lots of screen time, an exam can sort out whether it is dry eye, allergies, or something else.
How long does dry eye treatment take to work?
Many people notice a difference within a few weeks of starting the right plan, though chronic dry eye usually needs ongoing care rather than a one-time fix. The key is treating the actual cause. I first figure out whether your dry eye is aqueous-deficient (not enough tears) or evaporative (usually from clogged meibomian glands), then build a plan that may include targeted drops, warm compresses and lid hygiene, prescription therapy, or punctal plugs.
Where This Information Comes From
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Dry Eye?: the oil, water, and mucus layers of the tear film and where each comes from
- Craig JP, et al. TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report. The Ocular Surface, 2017: the international definition of dry eye disease and its two overlapping types
- National Eye Institute: Dry Eye: who is at higher risk, and screen time as a contributor
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: Computers, Digital Devices and Eye Strain: blink rate drops from about 15 to 5 to 7 times a minute on screens
- Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ. Smartphone use is a risk factor for pediatric dry eye disease according to region and age. BMC Ophthalmology, 2016: 916 schoolchildren; smartphone time linked to dry eye, outdoor time protective, improvement after 4 weeks off smartphones
Serving Boca Raton and Nearby Cities
We see patients for dry eye evaluation and treatment at our office at 1000 NW 9th Ct, Ste 203A, Boca Raton, FL 33486. Families also come to us from Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach. Directions from your city →
Ready to Feel Better?
Dry eye is very treatable once we know the cause. We see children, teens, and adults on weekdays, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.