Dry Eye Treatment in Charleston, SC

Watery eyes can actually be a sign of dry eye. When the eye surface becomes irritated, your eyes may respond by producing extra watery tears. Dr. Shealy says this is one of the symptoms that surprises patients most because the problem may involve tear quality and stability rather than simply having too few tears.

Yes. Dry eye can cause blurry or fluctuating vision because the tear film helps create a smooth optical surface over the eye. If your vision clears after blinking and then becomes blurry again, an unstable tear film may be part of the problem.

A dry eye evaluation looks for the reason behind your symptoms. At Lowcountry Eye Care, your eye doctor may ask about your symptoms, medications, screen habits, and current eye drops, then examine your eyelids, tear film, and eye surface. We may also use dye to assess tear stability and meibomian gland imaging to get a closer look at the glands that produce the oily part of your tears.

We base treatment on what is causing your dry eye rather than giving every patient the same plan. We look at your symptoms, tear quality, eyelids, meibomian glands, lifestyle, and other factors before recommending care. Treatment may include a specific artificial tear, prescription medication, lid care, gland-focused treatment, IPL, or a combination of approaches.

It depends on the cause. Some symptoms may improve when you address a temporary trigger or contributing factor, while other forms of dry eye may need ongoing management. The goal is to identify the cause, improve eye surface health, and find a plan that keeps symptoms controlled over time.

OptiLight may be considered for adults whose dry eye is related to meibomian gland dysfunction, where the oil-producing glands along the eyelids don’t work properly. It isn’t the right treatment for every type of dry eye, so your eye doctor will first evaluate your eyes to decide whether IPL fits your needs.

Yes. Dry eye can make contact lenses uncomfortable or hard to wear because lenses depend on a healthy tear film. Dr. Shealy has seen patients who stopped wearing contacts because of severe dryness and were able to wear them again for certain activities after treating the underlying dry eye.

Schedule an evaluation when dryness, burning, watering, irritation, or blurry vision keeps returning, interferes with your daily activities, or requires frequent eye drops. Dry eye ranges from mild irritation to disease that can affect the corneal surface, so persistent symptoms are worth investigating.

Not necessarily. Artificial tears are a common treatment for mild dry eye and can be very helpful when they match the patient’s needs. The concern is when you depend on them frequently but get little or very brief relief.