woman with dry eye in front of a computer

Dry Eye Treatment in Centerville

Offering Lasting Relief For Dry, Itchy & Gritty Eyes

Tired of your eyes constantly watering?

Want to find a solution for your red, dry, itchy eyes?

Dry eye disease can seriously harm your quality of life. It can cause severe irritation and even infection in severe cases.

Symptoms of dry eye disease include:

Red, dry eyes
Itchiness in and around the eye
A gritty-feeling in the eye
Light sensitivity
Excessive watering of the eyes

Visit Comprehensive Eye Care - Centerville for effective and lasting dry eye relief.

How Dry Eye Disease Develops & How to Treat It

man with dry eye sneeze

Dry eye disease is an increasingly common eye condition that can happen either because the eye is not producing enough tears, or because tears are evaporating too quickly, leaving the eyes without enough moisture to function comfortably.

This can happen for several reasons including allergies, side effects from medications, hormonal changes, and illness.

Depending on the cause and exact symptoms of your dry eyes, our Centerville eye doctors will be able to prescribe treatments and medications aimed at increasing the amount of tears your eye produces and/or slowing the evaporation of tears to better hydrate your eyes.

What Are the Main Causes of Dry Eye?

Aging

Dry eye disease tends to affect people over the age of 50. This is because tear production slows as we age. As the lacrimal glands produce fewer tears, dry eye develops.
Hormonal changes

It's not uncommon for some women to experience dry eye symptoms during pregnancy, menopause, or while using birth control pills. That's because hormone imbalances can reduce tear production.
Autoimmune disease

Certain autoimmune diseases, like Sjögren’s syndrome, can cause white blood cells to attack your tear glands, thus reducing tear production. Other diseases like arthritis, lupus, and diabetes can also cause poor or insufficient tear production.
Medications

Certain medications can reduce mucus production (one of the 3 tear components) thus contributing to chronic dry eye.

They include antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, and beta-blockers.

Note that this is just a handful of causes. There are many other factors that can contribute to dry eye, including pollution and dry air, allergies, poor tear quality, dehydration, contact lens wear, and more.

Dry Eyes FAQs

Can I still wear contact lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

Yes, some people can still wear contact lenses with dry eye syndrome. However, depending on its severity, you may need to carefully select the adequate contact lens for optimal clarity and comfort.

Oftentimes, because contact lenses sit on the eye, it's difficult for vital oxygen to reach the eye. This can worsen dry eye symptoms, and increase the risk of scratching or otherwise damaging your eye. Make sure to ask your eye doctor which contact lenses are most adapted to your condition.

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome. There are, however, many treatment options that offer lasting dry eye relief.

Can dry eye syndrome cause blindness?

In rare extreme cases, dry eye syndrome can cause corneal ulcers. These ulcers can result in scarring on the eye, making it difficult for the cornea to focus light accurately. If left untreated, corneal ulcers and the associated scarring can result in blindness.

How can I prevent dry eye symptoms?

Below are a few tips that will help prevent dry eye symptoms:

Point fans, heaters, and air vents so that they don’t directly blow into your eyes
Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
Stay properly hydrated
Take breaks during long tasks, especially those that require extended visual focus

Patient Reviews

4.7

114 Reviews

- Nov. 26, 2025

I am very grateful for Dr. O'Neill and the staff at Comprehensive EyeCare. I have not seen this clea... Show Morerly in years and I am constantly noticing details around me that were previously lost in haze. My first day wearing my trial contact lenses, I was stunned that Dr. O'Neill was able to dial-in my prescription so precisely. I honestly didn’t think it was possible for my vision to be this sharp and functional. I had not been to the optometrist in several years. Around 8 years ago, my optometrist had so harshly overcorrected my vision, reading and writing at a normal arms length’s distance was impossible. When I told to this to my optometrist, I was told to get a pair of readers. It did not make any sense for me to wear readers while doing office work only to take them off to drive home and then put the readers back on when doing work at home. This would have required me to somehow to put readers on top of my new glasses, which were the same prescription. When I explained my frustration. My optometrist just shrugged and repeated, “You need readers”. I just wore my old pair of glasses for a year. My next optometrist took one look at my prescription and diagnosed the overcorrection. I had a couple of blissful years of clear vision and productivity, until I lost my insurance. The treatment at the front desk became more terse. My optometrist’s “small talk” began to veer into the “freeloaders leeching off society are destroying this country” direction. I got the message and moved on. I found another optometrist. I made an appointment for three months in the future and I felt lucky to get it. On the morning of the appointment, a staffer called me and told me that my insurance was not accepted (even though it had be listed and accepted as an option in the on-line booking process). The staffer then informed me that if I wanted to get my eyes checked, I could pay $300 out of pocket, or I could go elsewhere. Honestly, I was not expecting much when I made the appointment with Dr. O'Neill. After being treated as a burdensome obligation by my previous eye care establishment, it felt a little unusual to be treated in a decent and professional manner. I was able to get some excellent contact lenses, and thanks to some extra work by Ms. C., who managed to find me extra savings, a fantastic pair of glasses.