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.


Dry Eyes in Saint Charles

Our optometry practice in Saint Charles

Photograph of David  Duryea
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

Patient Reviews
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71 Reviews
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- 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. 06, 2024
Dr Dureau is very knowledgeable & caring highly recommended happy to have him as my Doctor
- Jan. 10, 2024
Taking care of my vision for now and the future.. caring staff.
- Dec. 22, 2023
Dr. Wicke and the staff at Advanced Eyecare were very helpful and informative regarding my eye care ... options. I would certainly have no issues with recommending Advanced Eyecare to my family and friends.
- Dec. 15, 2023
Advanced Eye Care is a great place to get your eyes looked at and Autumn Wicke is very thorough .
- Oct. 26, 2023
Dr. Autumn is phenomenal. I’ve never had an eye doctor get my prescription right on the first try ... like she did. Very thorough and respectful. 10/10 recommendations for her and the lovely staff
- Sep. 28, 2023
Took great care of my son when getting his new glasses. Patient with us while he tried them on, eve... n cracked a few jokes.
- Aug. 02, 2023
Saw Dr. Wicke for the first time today. I've been struggling with my vision and she was the 3rd opto... metrist I saw about it, and the first one I walked away from feeling like I finally had a clear answer. I also brought my 4 year old in for her first ever eye exam and Dr. Wicke did awesome! So thankful to have this office in STC.
- May. 11, 2023
Dr. Wicke is really the best!!
- May. 01, 2023
Absolutely love Dr. Wicke! She is very friendly and always smiling willing to help me.
- Mar. 24, 2023
(Translated by Google) Dr. Wicke is the best!! (Original) Dr. Wicke is the Best!!
- Mar. 17, 2023
Sure, yes for sure.A five star all the way!!
- Nov. 16, 2020
Wonderful staff and service. Always friendly and helpful. 🥰
- Nov. 09, 2020
Awesome service! Friendly staff and super informative😊
- Oct. 26, 2020
Nice to have a local doctor, friendly staff, accommidating for scheduling appointments.
- Oct. 26, 2020
Was able to schedule appointment quickly. Great experience throughout appointment.
- Oct. 26, 2020
My family has been going to Dr Duryea for years. Every one is always professional, friendly and help... ful. I highly recommend Advanced Eyecare.
- Oct. 23, 2020
Excellent care. Excellent hours for the working folks. Great service. Covid safe procedures.
- Oct. 23, 2020
The staff is extremely kind and helpful. Dr. Duryea is very professional and explains things simply ... and precisely.

View All 71 Reviews


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