Vision Therapy in Tucson

Spotting the Signs of Dry Eye

(520) 327-6211

Understanding the Symptoms

Dry eye is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and its symptoms can vary in severity. It's crucial to recognize the signs of dry eye early to seek appropriate treatment and improve your eye health and comfort.

man with sore eyes


Common Symptoms to Look Out For

woman with red eyes

Experiencing dry eye symptoms can greatly affect your daily life and overall health. These symptoms can disrupt your work, hobbies, and even your ability to carry out everyday tasks comfortably.

The constant discomfort and distraction caused by these symptoms can lower your productivity and overall quality of life. 

Here are common signs that may indicate dry eye syndrome:

  • Dryness:
    A persistent sensation of dryness, grittiness, or eye irritation.
  • Itching:
    Frequent itching or a burning sensation in and around the eyes.
  • Redness:
    Bloodshot or red eyes, often accompanied by discomfort.·
  • Excessive Tearing:
    Paradoxically, your eyes may produce more tears as a response to dryness, leading to watery eyes.
  • Blurry Vision:
    Vision may become temporarily blurred, particularly when reading or using digital screens.
  • Light Sensitivity:
    Increased sensitivity to light, known as photophobia.
  • Foreign Body Sensation:
    Feeling as though something is in your eye.
  • Eye Fatigue:
    Increased eye fatigue, especially during prolonged periods of reading, screen time, or other visually demanding tasks.

Ignoring dry eye symptoms can lead to worsening discomfort and potential complications. Chronic dry eye can damage the eye's surface and increase the risk of eye infections, scarring, and vision loss. Seeking professional guidance if you're experiencing any of these symptoms is crucial.


Dry Eye Diagnosis and Expert Care

When you choose Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th for your dry eye care, you benefit from our expertise in comprehensive diagnosis. We understand that your unique health history and lifestyle can affect your dry eye differently, which is why we practice personalized care tailored to you. Our approach includes:

  • In-Depth Eye Exams

    During a comprehensive eye exam, we evaluate your eyelids, eye surface, and your complete health history and lifestyle to identify potential underlying causes of dry eyes.

  • Tear Assessment

    We conduct a detailed assessment of your tears, measuring their volume and quality. This assessment helps us identify any deficiencies in tear quantity or quality, crucial factors in dry eye diagnosis.

  • Tear Breakup Time

    Using advanced techniques like tear breakup time measurement, we identify specific areas of your eyes where tears may evaporate more rapidly. This information aids in tailoring your treatment plan.

  • Specialized Dry Eye Test: Schirmer Test

    This test involves placing blotting test paper strips on the lower eyelids to measure tear production over a specific time. It helps determine the volume of tears your eyes produce.

Patient Reviews
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389 Reviews
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- Nov. 20, 2024
Dr. Fuhr is very patient and knowledgeable, he takes the time to explain everything. How refreshing... is that when most doctors just want to rush you through your appointment! The staff there are also pleasant, courteous, patient, knowledgeable and customer service oriented which is very rare these days. Thank you Alvernon Optical for several great experiences, I will be coming back!
- Oct. 21, 2024
Such great service and selection, the staff and Dr. Cinalli are so incredibly kind and helpful!
- Oct. 09, 2024
I received excellent care and service.
- Oct. 08, 2024
Dr. Paul Cinalli was the best optometrist I've ever seen. Was extremely knowledgeable, patient and ... went above and beyond to make sure I got what I needed.
- Oct. 08, 2024
I have been going to Alvernon Optical for a long time. The optometrist is wonderful and the overall ... service is excellent. I recently broke my glasses and they helped me get new ones under their warranty. They came in pretty fast and I can see well again. Thank you!
- Sep. 27, 2024
Everyone in this place is so nice πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ™‚
- Sep. 03, 2024
I have been a patient of Dr Lewis for many years. His quality of care is excellent and I followed hi... m to Alvernon Optical after he recently left LensCrafters. I found the staff at Alvernon to be very helpful and friendly. A great start! Ps. Sorry for your loss, LensCrafters. Dr Lewis is the best!
- Sep. 03, 2024
Very professional. The doctor listened to my needs and my insurance was accepted.
- Aug. 17, 2024
I love this place. They are so peaceful at this location. They took care of me when I was injured J... anuary 12,2023 they gave my brother a good discount on a pair of glasses. God bless you all and I'll be in soon for a new pair or 2!πŸ€“πŸ§
- Aug. 15, 2024
Great Customer Service. Very helpful in finding the right pair of glasses. Thank You!
- Aug. 12, 2024
This is the eye care I’ve wanted for a long time. I’ve been to 3 different places in Tucson in t... he last 5 years but they do not compare to Alvernon Optical. Dr. Lewis really is the best! He takes his time with you and is very warm, which is hard to find.
- Aug. 07, 2024
Quick and easy.
- Aug. 03, 2024
The staff are friendly and very helpful!
- Jul. 22, 2024
First time seeing him, he was amazing!
- Jun. 28, 2024
Dr Lewis took his time with my exam and made sure that I had the right prescription before leaving. ... No rush. Staff is very friendly, polite and helpful.
- Jun. 27, 2024
From the moment you walk in everyone is very polite and welcoming.
- Jun. 25, 2024
Dr Cinalli is great. He answered all of my questions and was not dismissive of my concerns in any wa... y, as so many doctors are. I have a congenital eye problem and know what works best for me, as far as prescriptions and eyewear go. He didn't try to talk me into progressives (so tired of that) and gave me exactly what I needed in my prescriptions. The staff was friendly and efficient and weren't pushy with sales (so tired of that, too). I will definitely be going back and I'm sorry I didn't find Alvernon Optical years ago.
- Jun. 20, 2024
I had a wonderful experience ☺️ πŸ‘“
- Jun. 03, 2024
I would recommend to anyone looking to get an eye exam and glasses!
- Jun. 03, 2024
Great experience, everyone was friendly, knowledgeable and professional.

View All 389 Reviews

Dry Eyes in Tucson

Our optometry practice in Tucson

Photograph of Mark  Fischer
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
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  • Medicaid
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  • Anthem
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Consult Our Dry Eye Experts

At Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th, our experienced eye care specialists are ready to help you find relief from dry eye symptoms. We understand these symptoms' impact on your daily life and are committed to improving your eye health and comfort.

Contact us to schedule an appointment and discuss your dry eye symptoms. Let's work together to find the most suitable treatment and enhance your quality of life.

(520) 327-6211