Common symptoms include burning, stinging, watery eyes, blurry vision, redness, eye fatigue, and the feeling that something is in your eye. A dry eye evaluation can determine whether dry eye is causing your symptoms and identify the underlying cause.
One of Henrico's Most Comprehensive Dry Eye Clinics
Dry Eye Treatment in Henrico, VA
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Frequently Asked Questions
Artificial tears often provide temporary symptom relief but don't address the reason your eyes are dry. A comprehensive evaluation helps determine why your symptoms are occurring so treatment can be tailored to your condition.
Punctal plugs are a treatment option for some patients with dry eye. If your doctor believes they're appropriate for your condition, they'll explain exactly how the procedure works, what to expect during and after, and whether it's the right step for you.
Not everyone with dry eye requires prescription therapy. Your treatment recommendations will depend on the underlying cause and severity of your symptoms.
For most patients, dry eye is a long-term condition, but with the right treatment, it's very manageable. Many of our patients tell us they barely notice it anymore.
Could Dry Eye Be Causing Your Symptoms?
Dry eye affects everyone differently. While some people experience occasional irritation, others struggle with symptoms throughout the day that interfere with work, reading, driving, or wearing contact lenses.
Common symptoms include:
- Burning or stinging eyes
- Red or irritated eyes
- Watery eyes
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
- A gritty or sandy sensation
- Eye fatigue
- Contact lens discomfort
If these symptoms sound familiar, a dry eye evaluation can help determine what's causing them.
Dry Eye Evaluations
Finding the Reason Behind Your Symptoms
Dry eye isn't a single condition, which means there's no one-size-fits-all treatment. If you've been told to "just use drops" and they haven't given you lasting relief, the drops may not be targeting the actual cause.
What Happens During Your Evaluation?
Your eye doctor will discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, and perform a thorough examination of your eyes. We evaluate your tear film, the surface of your eyes, and other factors contributing to your discomfort.
What Are We Looking For?
The goal isn't simply to confirm that you have dry eye. It's to identify the underlying cause so we can recommend treatment that addresses the problem instead of temporarily masking the symptoms. Dr. Clifford Roffis & Associates has built one of the area's most thorough dry eye evaluation and management programs, because lasting relief starts with finding the cause.
Dry Eye Imaging with the Topcon Dry Eye Imager
Looking Beyond What Can Be Seen During a Routine Exam
Some of the changes that contribute to dry eye aren't visible during a standard eye examination. That's why we use the Topcon Dry Eye Imager, advanced technology that maps the surface of your eye in detail.
Why Is Imaging Helpful?
The Topcon Dry Eye Imager gives your optometrist a precise look at the structures that keep your eyes lubricated, providing objective data about what's causing your symptoms rather than relying on guesswork.
How Does This Help You?
Instead of trial and error, imaging allows us to make treatment recommendations based on exactly what's happening with your eyes, so we treat the cause, not just the symptom. This is what separates a comprehensive dry eye clinic from a routine eye exam.
Dry Eye Management
A Treatment Plan Built Around Your Eyes
Dry eye management isn't about temporary relief. It's about improving your comfort over time.
What Happens After Your Evaluation?
Once we've identified the cause of your symptoms, we'll create a treatment plan based on your condition and your lifestyle. As your eyes respond to treatment, we'll continue monitoring your progress and adjust your care when needed.
Why Ongoing Care Matters
Dry eye is often a long-term condition. Regular follow-up visits allow us to monitor your symptoms, evaluate your progress, and help keep your eyes as comfortable and healthy as possible.
Treatment Options
When Are Prescription Treatments Recommended?
Over-the-counter eye drops don't treat every type of dry eye. For some patients, prescription therapies may be recommended to improve tear production or reduce inflammation contributing to dry eye symptoms.
How Can They Help?
If prescription treatment is appropriate for your condition, your doctor will explain how it works, what to expect, and whether it's the right option for your long-term care.
What Are Punctal Plugs?
Punctal plugs are small devices placed in your tear drainage ducts to help your natural tears remain on the surface of your eyes longer.
When Are They Recommended?
If your eyes drain tears too quickly, punctal plugs may be recommended to help your eyes stay better lubricated throughout the day.
How Can They Help?
By helping your natural tears remain on the surface of your eyes longer, punctal plugs may improve comfort and reduce symptoms associated with dry eye.
Supporting the Surface of Your Eye
Sometimes the surface of the eye needs additional support while it heals.
When Are Amniotic Membranes Recommended?
For some patients with more advanced dry eye, your doctor may recommend an amniotic membrane as part of a treatment plan to support healing of the eye's surface.
How Can They Help?
Amniotic membranes provide a protective environment that supports healing while helping improve comfort during the recovery process.
Take the Next Step Toward Lasting Dry Eye Relief
You don't have to accept burning, irritated, or watery eyes as part of your everyday life. Dr. Clifford Roffis & Associates runs one of Henrico's most comprehensive dry eye clinics, with in-office imaging, evaluation, and a full range of treatment options including punctal plugs, amniotic membranes, and prescription therapies.
Call us at (804) 226-1144 to schedule a dry eye evaluation. We proudly care for patients throughout Henrico, Sandston, Highland Springs, New Kent, Montrose, and the surrounding communities.