Dry Eye

Dry, irritated eyes shouldn’t slow you down. At St. Paul Eye Clinic, our doctors combine advanced diagnostics with personalized care to help you find lasting relief, comfort, and clear vision, every time. Voted Minnesota’s Best Eye Doctor in the StarTribune’s Minnesota’s Best Awards, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to look for damaged cells and dry spots on the surface of your cornea.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough quality tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to irritation, burning, redness, a gritty feeling, and fluctuating vision, symptoms that often worsen throughout the day.

How do we detect dry eye?

We complete a thorough evaluation that checks tear production, tear quality, eyelid function, and the health of your ocular surface. With this information, your doctor can identify what’s causing your symptoms and recommend the right care.

Treatment Options

Dry eye care is personalized to your needs. Depending on your symptoms and tear film condition, treatment may begin with targeted therapies to calm inflammation and improve tear quality. For other patients, in-office procedures and tailored at-home routines can provide long-term relief. Your doctor will help you find the plan that brings you comfort and clearer vision.

What To Expect

You will find care that you will not find anywhere else... Nobody beats St. Paul Eye.

It's a very comfortable group of providers, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I'm so grateful for St. Paul Eye Clinic and being able to live without a lot of my tension headaches.

I think since I had my surgery, I've probably recommended it to about three or four people that I know.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of dry eye?

Those affected by dry eye experience uncomfortable sensations. Symptoms include eyes that burn or feel gritty, itchy, or sticky. You might also experience blurred vision with prolonged reading or computer work.

Having dry eye also makes you more sensitive to environmental changes, such as wind, poor air quality, low humidity, and air conditioning. In addition, allergies and certain drugs, like antihistamines and oral contraceptives, contribute to dry eye.

What are the contributing factors to dry eye?

Age: The risk of dry eye increases with age
Medications: A variety of medications, including blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and psychiatric medications, can reduce the ability to produce tears.
Eye Conditions: Certain medical conditions can cause dry eye or even a production of excess tears.
Environmental Conditions: Factors such as the weather, usually windy or low-humidity climates, promote dry eye.

How to diagnose dry eye

St. Paul Eye Clinic can diagnose dry eye through a comprehensive eye examination, where we measure, test, and evaluate the quantity and quality of tears produced by the eye. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to look for damaged cells and dry spots on the surface of your cornea. We will also examine the position and function of your eyelids to make sure there are no problems with tear distribution. Many patients with dry eye can find welcome relief with artificial tears.

How to treat dry eye

St. Paul Eye Clinic will prescribe tear substitutes based on your individual needs. We also offer prescription medications, ranging from prescription eye drops to nasal sprays to oral medications, to tackle the various factors that contribute to dryness.

Punctal plugs, which can be temporary or permanent, are another treatment option for patients with dry eyes. Punctal plugs are very small—about the size of a sesame seed—and are non-surgically inserted in just seconds right here at our office. Our doctor will tailor your treatment plan based on your needs. Many patients report relief from dry eye symptoms and can resume their normal activities.