Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eye is a common condition that happens when your eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. While it may seem minor at first, ongoing dryness can affect your comfort, vision, and daily routine. At Vision Source Mission Bend, we provide dry eye treatment in Houston, TX to help identify what is causing your symptoms and recommend care based on your needs.

Healthy tears help keep the surface of the eye smooth, clear, and protected. When the tear film becomes unstable, your eyes may feel dry, gritty, irritated, or watery. Some patients are surprised that watery eyes can be a sign of dry eye, but this can happen when the eyes overproduce poor-quality tears in response to irritation.

​​​​​​​Dry eye treatment is not one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on the underlying cause, which is why a detailed eye exam is an important first step.

Dry eye can develop for many reasons, including changes in tear production, inflammation, eyelid problems, and environmental factors. Common causes include:

• Aging
• Meibomian gland dysfunction, also called MGD
• Blepharitis or eyelid inflammation
• Previous eye surgery
• Contact lens use
• Allergies
• Certain medications
• Medical conditions that affect tear production or inflammation

Houston weather, screen use, and air conditioning can also make symptoms more noticeable for some patients.

Dry eye symptoms can range from mild irritation to daily discomfort. You may notice burning, stinging, redness, blurry vision, light sensitivity, eye fatigue, or a sandy feeling in the eyes. Some people also experience excess tearing, especially when the eyes are irritated by dryness.

If symptoms come and go, it can still be worth scheduling an evaluation. Dry eye can become more difficult to manage when inflammation or gland problems are left untreated.

At Vision Source Mission Bend, we look for the root cause of your dry eye so treatment can be more targeted. During your evaluation, our doctors may review your symptoms, health history, medications, contact lens wear, and daily habits. We also examine the tear film, eyelids, oil glands, and surface of the eyes to check for inflammation, tear instability, or signs of gland blockage. This helps us determine whether your symptoms are related to poor tear quality, low tear production, eyelid inflammation, MGD, allergies, or another contributing factor.

Treatment depends on what is causing your dry eye and how severe your symptoms are. For some patients, simple changes and supportive care may help. Others may need prescription treatment or in-office therapies for longer-lasting relief.

Dry eye treatment options may include eyelid hygiene, artificial tears, prescription eye drops, nutritional supplements, scleral lenses, and in-office therapies. If contact lenses are contributing to discomfort, we may also discuss alternative lens options or adjustments to your wearing schedule. Our goal is to improve comfort, support tear film health, and help protect the surface of your eyes.

Schedule a consultation with Vision Source Mission Bend to learn more about personalized dry eye treatment options. Contact our office at 13615 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77083 by calling (281) 933-3446 to book an appointment.