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Discover Relief From Itchy, Red Eyes

Do you find yourself dealing with persistent teary or watery eyes? Are you experiencing a burning, itchy, or gritty sensation around your eyelids that's affecting your quality of life? If so, your search for relief ends here!

At the Dry Eye Care Center of Charleston County, we understand the discomfort and inconvenience associated with dry eye syndrome. That's why we provide state-of-the-art technologies and unmatched expertise to deliver the best possible treatment.

Our team of specialists will collaborate with you to create a customized treatment plan that addresses the underlying cause of your dry eye symptoms. Whether you require prescription drops, non-prescription therapies, or in-office procedures, we have you covered!

Don't allow dry eye to control your life any further. Book an appointment with our Dry Eye Care Center today and begin experiencing the relief you deserve.

Request A Dry Eye Consultation

Home » Eye Care Services » Dry Eye

Family Vision Care: Your Top Choice for Eye Care

Looking for relief from dry eye syndrome? Look no further than the Eye Care Center of Charleston County! Our advanced technologies, expertise, and dedication to patient care make us the top choice for all your eye care needs. As the premier dry eye center in the region, we're proud to be the go-to destination for patients seeking relief from dry eye discomfort. With our array of innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies, we'll create a personalized solution that provides rapid and lasting relief.

We proudly offer the following treatments and technologies:

  • IPL (intense pulsed light)
  • iLux
  • LIPIFLOW
  • BLEPHEX
  • TearLab Osmolarity System

Our goal is to help you experience a new level of comfort and clarity in your daily life. So why wait? Book your appointment today and take the first step towards a life free from dry eye discomfort.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

While over eighty percent (80%) of dry eye cases are due to blocked oil glands in the eyelids — a condition called meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye — many other factors can cause this syndrome. These include:

Gender – the majority of dry eye sufferers are women. This tends to be caused by hormonal changes, whether through the use of contraceptives, pregnancy or menopause.

Age there’s a higher prevalence of DES in those over 50 years of age

Environment – dry wind, dry air and dry climates can evaporate the tears. Home and car heaters, air conditioners, fans and hair dryers also cause tears to evaporate.

Medication – these include antidepressants, decongestants and blood pressure medications.

Auto-immune disorders – Sjogren’s disease and arthritis, among others.

MEET OUR DRY EYE TEAM
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A Quick Breakdown of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES)

DES occurs when our eyes don’t produce or maintain enough healthy tears to nourish, sustain, and lubricate our eyes.

Without treatment or proper medication, DES often worsens over time. Because this is a progressive condition, it’s critical to get treatment before corneal damage occurs.

The most common symptoms of DES include:

  • Gritty, itchy, or stinging eyes
  • Excessive tearing and discharge
  • Eyes that feel tired or dry
  • Increased light sensitivity
  • Regularly using eye drops
  • Discomfort that worsens as the day progresses

Do those symptoms sound familiar? Get to the root of your eye discomfort by contacting us today.

Suffering from dry eye syndrome not only diminishes your quality of life but also makes daily activities such as reading, doing sports, or driving a struggle.

Think you have dry eye syndrome? Get to the root of your eye discomfort by contacting us today.

Contact the Dry Eye Care Center of Charleston County

While meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye, resulting from clogged oil glands in the eyelids, accounts for over 80% of dry eye cases, there are several other factors that can contribute to this condition.

These factors include:

  • Age (being 50 years or older)
  • Gender (females are more susceptible to developing DES)
  • Certain medications (such as antidepressants, decongestants, and blood pressure medications)
  • Certain medical conditions (such as autoimmune disorders)
  • Environmental factors (such as residing in a dry, cold, or windy climate)

Ready to Say Good Bye to Dry Eye?

Our approach to dry eye treatment is akin to therapy. Rather than just prescribing medication, we tailor a personalized solution for every patient by identifying the underlying cause. This allows us to offer the most effective treatment possible.

For instance, if a patient is suffering from inflammatory tear deficiency, we may recommend prescription drops such as Restasis or Xiidra. Meanwhile, milder cases of dry eye can benefit from non-prescription treatments like heat masks, lid scrubs, or artificial tears. Our patients have also been very satisfied with our in-office treatments.

Request A Dry Eye Consultation

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Lasting & Effective Dry Eye Treatment

Family Vision Care has some of the most cutting-edge and advanced technologies to quickly and effectively test for dry eye syndrome.

Among our treatments for dry eye syndrome, the most typical treatments start with medicated eye drops, anti-inflammatory drops, or a heated compress. Occasionally, tiny devices called punctal plugs are inserted into the eye’s tear duct to prevent moisture from draining out of the eye. These plugs increase the moisture level for long-term relief.

Let our optometric team and the talented, experienced staff help get you started on the path to real long-term relief from dry eye.

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What Is Dry Eye Syndrome? (DES)

Our eyes need tears to nourish, sustain and lubricate our eyes. DES, which is usually caused by insufficient tears or poor quality tears, leaves our eyes parched. This results in a variety of unpleasant symptoms, such as itchy, red, and sore eyes.

Many people suffer from this chronic syndrome without realizing that it can permanently harm their eyes. Because this is a progressive condition, it is critical to get treatment before symptoms exacerbate to the point that it harms the cornea. Without treatment or proper medication, DES often worsens over time.

Learn About the Most Common Cause of Dry Eye

Learn More about Dry Eye Syndrome | FAQ

medical-plus medical-plus How are Watery Eyes Related to Dry Eye?

Excessively watery eyes may signal the presence of dry eye disease. While this might seem paradoxical, it is a common symptom of dry eye. Dry eyes can cause your eyes to produce too many tears in order to make up for tears that evaporate too quickly due to a problem with your eyelid glands. You might also have watery eyes if your tear ducts are fully or partially blocked.

medical-plus medical-plus Is There a Cure for Dry Eye Disease?

While there is no cure for this condition, topical steroids, punctal plugs, and other treatment methods can provide long-term relief, so that your dependence on eye drops is diminished and symptoms are significantly reduced. For more information, visit our Dry Eye Treatment Page

medical-plus medical-plus Do Gels, Ointments, & Artificial Tears Help Dry Eyes?

Healthy eyes need to remain lubricated. A dry ocular surface can lead to eye abrasions and erosions, which may — in severe cases — result in eye ulcers and reduced vision. While most people with dry eyes reduce discomfort by using lubricants, drops, and ointment, the relief is only temporary and doesn't address the root problem. Contact us for effective and lasting dry eye treatment today.

While nearly every eye doctor provides dry eye services, making the decision to find a dry eye professional that much more difficult, we encourage you to contact us for a phone consultation.

We’re happy to share with you information about our dry eye program, and the type of results we’ve provided other patients for significant lasting improvements within a relatively short period of time. Contact us to find out how we can help you relieve your dry eye symptoms and start managing your eye health successfully, today.

Request A Dry Eye Consultation

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