Vision Therapy in Saint Charles

Spotting the Signs of Dry Eye

(989) 865-9979

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 Advanced EyeCare & Contact Lens Center - St. Charles 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
4.9
123 Reviews
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- Aug. 14, 2025
Walking in, I was greeted right away with smiles and help. Such a positive energy in the office, an... d the staff seem to really enjoy their job! I saw Dr. Autumn for the first time, and she's so full of energy and so thoroughly explains everything so that I understood what she was looking at, what she saw, and why she was doing what she was doing. I don't think I've ever been so informed about my eyes! Also a very helpful suggestion of making sure I blink along with using eyedrops to guard against dry eyes because of how much time I spend in front of a computer screen. And here I thought my issue was my crazy allergies... Definitely looking forward to seeing her at next year's visit! My insurance covers exams and lenses every year, but frames only every two years, and I wasn't pressured AT ALL to buy anything yet. (But at least I have a current exam if my current glasses break!) Extremely happy with my first visit with Dr. Autumn!
- Aug. 07, 2025
They are absolutely the BEST!!
- Aug. 02, 2025
My wife and I both like Dr. Autumn very much she very professional and explains everything so you ca... n understand what she is doing. And the staff are also very helpful.
- Aug. 02, 2025
We have been patients for years both Chesaning and St Charles Staffs have been very professional and... treat us with respect on every visit.
- Jun. 12, 2025
The staff is competent and professional but also seem to enjoy their jobs and convey that to their p... atients. I felt relaxed & respected in their office. Dr. Autumn is fantastic and explains everything so well!
- Mar. 18, 2025
Advanced eye care has the friendliest staff that truly care about their clients !
- Mar. 12, 2025
Very good, helpful highly recommend
- Jan. 23, 2025
A+ from start to finish!
- Nov. 14, 2024
The entire staff is absolutely amazing! They make you feel welcome as soon as you walk in the door.... Everyone feels like a friend.
- Oct. 10, 2024
The doctor was very friendly and always had a smile on her face. Service was quick and professional
- Oct. 10, 2024
Always wonderful no complaints!
- Oct. 03, 2024
Dr. Autumn is so professional and pleasant. I look forward to my appointments as she keeps me up-to-... date on everything I need to be watching for. The entire staff is so kind and explains every process in detail. Would recommend this eye care facility to anyone!
- Aug. 05, 2024
Staff is friendly. They are prompt with getting glasses as well.
- Jun. 11, 2024
Just was very nice 👍 and
- Apr. 25, 2024
Very Friendly and helpful
- Apr. 02, 2024
Very impressed with Doctor and staff.
- Mar. 28, 2024
Dr Wicke and staff are awesome !! Thoughtful and caring !
- Mar. 20, 2024
It was a great visit. Everyone was so nice and friendly. I wish every business was like this one!
- Mar. 17, 2024
Good people work here . They take very good care of my eyes.
- Mar. 06, 2024
Dr Dureau is very knowledgeable & caring highly recommended Great Staff as Well ..Very happy to have... him as my Doctor…

View All 123 Reviews

Dry Eyes in Saint Charles

Our optometry practice in Saint Charles

Photograph of David Duryea
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
    1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
    1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
    1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
    1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  • Friday Closed
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

man putting eye drops in eyes

Consult Our Dry Eye Experts

At Advanced EyeCare & Contact Lens Center - St. Charles, 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.

(989) 865-9979