How We Diagnose and Treat Dry Eye — And What You Can Expect

If your eyes feel dry, irritated, or tired all the time — you're not alone.

Dry eye disease affects millions of people, and it’s more than just a minor annoyance. It can impact your comfort, your vision, and even your quality of life. The good news? There are real solutions. But getting there starts with a proper diagnosis and a clear plan.

At our office, we approach dry eye care differently — and patients often ask:

• How do you figure out what’s really causing my dry eye?

• Will this be covered by insurance?

• What happens if I don’t have coverage?

Let’s walk you through how we do things — and why it works.

Step 1: The Comprehensive Eye Exam

For many patients, dry eye gets noticed during their regular eye exam. We may see signs like:

• Inflammation or redness

• Poor tear quality

• Blocked oil glands along the eyelids

• Complaints of grittiness, burning, or fluctuating vision

But instead of guessing what treatment might help, we start with a basic first step:Warm compresses, lid hygiene, and possibly artificial tears.

These are safe, low-cost ways to begin caring for your eyes — and they help us learn how your eyes respond to initial treatment.

If your symptoms continue, we bring you back for a dedicated dry eye evaluation.

Step 2: The Dry Eye Evaluation - Diagnose and Treat Dry Eye

This visit is all about getting specific to diagnose and treat dry eye. Dry eye isn’t one condition — it’s a combination of problems that vary from person to person. During this visit, we’ll take a deeper look at:

• Your tear quality

• Inflammation on the surface of your eye

• The health of the oil-producing glands in your eyelids

• The type and severity of your dry eye

We may perform advanced tests such as:

• Meibography: Imaging to see how well your oil glands are working

• Tear osmolarity: Measures the saltiness and stability of your tears

• Inflammation marker testing (MMP-9): Identifies hidden inflammation in the eye

Based on what we find, we’ll build a personalized treatment plan that may include:

• Prescription medications

• In-office procedures

• Lifestyle changes

• At-home treatments

What About Insurance?

We know that cost and coverage matter — and we do everything we can to be clear from the start.

• If we are in-network with your insurance plan, we’ll bill them for the evaluation and any covered services.

• If we are out-of-network, we’ll still provide the exact same services — but we can give you a detailed estimate ahead of time so you know exactly what to expect.

We use nationally recognized medical billing codes and always follow proper documentation and transparency standards. In other words: we don’t make up prices, and we don’t bundle services in confusing ways. You’ll always know what’s being done, what it costs, and why it matters.

What Makes This Different?

If you’ve been handed a bottle of artificial tears or prescription medications in the past and told “good luck,” you’re not alone. But that’s not how we do things here.

Dry eye is a chronic condition. Like high blood pressure or diabetes, it takes understanding, monitoring, and consistent care — not just a quick fix.

Our goal is to:

• Identify what’s really causing your symptoms

• Treat the root cause, not just the discomfort

• Educate you on your options — whether that’s medication, procedure, or home care

• Make sure you’re informed and comfortable every step of the way

Ready for a Better Dry Eye Plan?

If your eyes are dry, tired, or uncomfortable — we can help.

Whether you're newly experiencing symptoms or have been frustrated with past treatments, a proper evaluation is the first step toward real relief.

Call our office or schedule online to set up your dry eye evaluation. We’ll help you understand what’s happening — and more importantly, what to do about it.