Waco Eye Associates

Understanding Dry Eye Disease and Treatment Options

Dry Eye Disease is a common chronic condition that occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to inflammation, irritation, and a gritty or burning sensation in the eyes. If left untreated, dry eye can impact vision and quality of life.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye can result from a variety of factors including aging, environmental conditions (wind, smoke, dry air), screen use, hormonal changes, certain medications (like antihistamines or antidepressants), and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can result in a variety of symptoms including, stinging or burning sensation, redness, blurred vision, double vision, sensitivity to light, feeling like something is in the eye, and watery eyes (a response to dryness).

Treatment Options

Managing dry eye often requires a combination of treatments tailored to the individual. Common options include:

Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter drops to supplement natural tear production.
Prescription Eye Drops: treat inflammation, increase tear production, or decrease tear evaporation.
Warm Compresses and Eyelid Hygiene: Helps with meibomian gland dysfunction, a common cause of evaporative dry eye.
Punctal Plugs: Tiny devices inserted into tear ducts to prevent tears from draining too quickly.

Lacrifill

Lacrifill is a newer, innovative treatment option designed to provide long-lasting relief for patients with dry eye disease. It is a long-acting, dissolvable gel placed in the tear ducts to help retain natural tears on the eye’s surface. Unlike traditional punctal plugs, Lacrifill is made of hyaluronic acid—a substance naturally found in the body—and gradually dissolves over time while providing sustained hydration.

Why Choose Lacrifill?

Biocompatible and comfortable
Drug-free and preservative-free
Helps maintain the eye’s natural tear film
Designed to improve symptoms without the need for daily drops