Tag Archive: Dry Eye Syndrome


End the Discomfort of Dry Eye Syndrome | Treating Dry Eyes

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March 5, 2013

End the Discomfort of Dry Eye Syndrome

Long Minnesota winters and windy summer days can leave many residents suffering from dry eye syndrome, a condition that leads to irritation and discomfort. While dry eyes may seem like a minor inconvenience, and the symptoms may seem to come and go, treating dry eye syndrome with help from an accredited eye doctor is important to your overall eye health and vision.

At Uptown Eye Care, we know how uncomfortable chronic dry eyes can be. We also know how important it is to treat the underlying condition leading to your discomfort.

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry Eye Syndrome can cause irritation and discomfort.
{ photo credit: Bert Kaufmann (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/22746515 null@null N02/3487433937/) }

According to Medical News Today, dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or simply dry eyes, is an eye disease in which tear film evaporation is high or tear production is low.

Dry eye syndrome impacts the tear film that covers our eyes at all times. Designed to remain stable between each blink, this tear film prevents the eyes from drying out. Dry eye sufferers experience a break down in this tear film, which results in dry spots on the surface of the eye itself.

Dry eye sufferers can experience many symptoms, including:

  • Burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
  • Feeling of dryness, grittiness and soreness in the eyes
  • Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
  • Sensitivity to smoke or wind
  • Redness of the eyes
  • Eye fatigue
  • Photophobia – sensitivity to light
  • Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
  • Tearing
  • Blurred vision – usually worse towards the end of the day
  • Double vision
  • Eyelids stick together when waking up

Untreated, dry eye syndrome can lead to a degradation of vision, increased pain or ulceration of the cornea.

What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

A number of factors can lead to dry eye syndrome, including age, eye fatigue caused by computer use or television viewing, reduced tear production and others. Knowing the cause of your unique symptoms is one of the most important steps in treating your discomfort.

Treating Dry Eyes

At Uptown Eye Care, Dr. Elaine Happ offers advice on a number of treatment options for dry eye syndrome. Dr. Happ measures tear osmolarity with the Tear Lab, an instrument that helps diagnose, treat, and monitor a patient’s dry eye symptoms. Using the information obtained with the Tear Lab, Dr. Happ offers advice on treatment options, including:

  • Artificial tears
  • Specialized contact lenses
  • Medications
  • Specialized glasses and eye wear

With the most recent technology, advanced knowledge of dry eye syndrome and a dedication to helping you end your discomfort, Uptown Eye Care works to offer the support you need to understand the cause of your dry eyes and how you seek relief.

Do you suffer from dry or itchy, inflamed eyes? If so, it is important to discuss your discomfort with an accredited dry eye syndrome doctor.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Uptown Eye Care please fill out our Appointment Request Form.

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Dry Eye accreditation:  http://www.uptowneyecare.com/services/dry-eye-accreditation/

Source: National News Today:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170743.php (http://www NULL.medicalnewstoday NULL.com/articles/170743 NULL.php)

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Winter in Minnesota | MN Winter Weather and Eye Wear Challenges

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February 12, 2013

Winter in Minnesota

Winter in Minnesota | MN Winter Weather and Eye Wear Challenges

Finally we have a winter with snow! Isn’t that why we choose to make our home in Minnesota? Many people cannot understand why anyone in their right mind would chose to endure subzero temperatures, icy sidewalks and roads, and the oppressive darkness of the winter months over the milder conditions of southern living. Those people have never experienced the beauty of waking up to a world covered in ice crystals reflecting the light of the rising sun or a soft, white blanket of snow that cushions the harsh sounds of the city and covers the browns and grays of the dormant flora.

They have also never experienced the thrill of traveling downhill on a highly polished pair of skis or a snowboard at speeds that would get you a hefty fine if you were traveling down the interstate. Nor have they driven their snowmobile or truck across a frozen lake to a tiny shed, drilled a hole through 18 inches of ice, dropped in a line and pulled out the catch of the day. Or bundled up the kids until they could barely move and help them build a massive snowman, or better yet, a snow fort where you stock pile snowballs for target practice.

While there are many good reasons we choose to stay in Minnesota in the winter, there are also some challenges that we face. One of those challenges is how to best care for our eyes and experience good vision when extreme temperatures cause humidity to drop, eyes to feel dry and glasses to fog up.

Uptown Eye Care - MN Winter

“Dr Happ” hangin’ loose on her official Uptown Eye Care snowboard

Dry Itchy Eyes in Winter

It is very common for eyes to feel scratchy and dry, or to tear excessively when consistently exposed to the drying heat we use to defrost ourselves after enjoying our time in the snow. Using a good quality, preservative-free artificial tear can provide immediate relief from the discomforts of dry eyes (see our post on Dry Eye Disease (DED)).

“These can be used as often as needed throughout the day” says optometrist Dr. Elaine Happ. “But if this doesn’t seem to eliminate your discomforts, then, as an accredited dry eye center, we can assist you in finding a therapy that will work for you.”

Anti Fog for Glasses

Keeping eye glasses from fogging up and impeding vision is another problem that the eye doctors at Uptown Eye Care can help you with. “We now have a new lens available made with a patented technology that prevents fog from forming on the lenses.” states Dr Happ. “ You just treat the lens with the antifog activator once a week. This new technology has been much more efficient and longer lasting than the old antifog liquids on the market.”

Daily Contact Lenses

Another fantastic option for keeping clear vision in the winter are daily contact lenses. Daily contact lenses are designed to be worn for one day, then disposed of at the end of the day. A fresh pair is put in each day resulting in the highest level of comfort possible.

“I have several patients that normally wear glasses, but will always get a supply of daily disposable contacts for use on snowmobile trips. It is much more comfortable when wearing helmets or other eye protection and has the added benefit of not fogging up” says Dr Happ. “And, with daily disposable contacts you don’t need to use contact lens solutions for overnight storage. You just throw them away and put in a new pair in the morning.”

Contact Uptown Eye Care

If you are experiencing challenges to maintaining clear and comfortable vision this winter, call or email us at Uptown Eye Care. We are ready to help you make the most of this beautiful Minnesota winter.

Uptown Eye Care
560 Cedar Street
Monticello, MN 55362
Directions (http://maps NULL.google NULL.com/maps/place?q=Uptown+Eyecare+Monticello,+MN&hl=en&cid=934498907954239871)

Phone: 763-271-2020
Fax: 763-271-2030
uptown@uptowneyecare.com (uptown null@null uptowneyecare NULL.com)

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A Vision Center for Dry Eye Therapy

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March 19, 2012

There are different causes of Dry Eye Disease, and, not surprisingly, there are different ways to treat Dry Eye Disease.

Individualized Treatment for Dry Eye Disease

dry eye disease

Dry Eye Disease

Dr. Elaine Happ, OD owns a vision center center for Dry Eye Therapy.  Uptown Eye Care offers comprehensive treatment for dry eye disease. “I have developed a treatment protocol that takes into account that each individual will respond differently to treatment.”

On your initial visit for a dry eye evaluation we will do thorough testing to determine the severity of your condition. Based on your test results we will know if you have mild, moderate or severe dry eye disease. We will then discuss treatment options that will give you the best results. The options could include artificial tear therapy, Omega-3 supplements, punctal plugs, anti-inflammatory drops or prescription strength artificial tears.

We schedule a follow up visit approximately 30 days after we implement the original treatment plan where we can again use the TearLab to see if you are getting positive results with our chosen treatment plan. If necessary, we adjust the therapy to maximize your results.

If you suffer from red, burning or itching eyes or if you get a sandy or gritty feeling, excessive tearing and are sensitive to light you may have dry eye disease. If you have had refractive surgery, or spend long hours in front of a computer or suffer from allergies the symptoms of dry eye disease can be intensified.

Don’t put up with the discomfort of dry eyes. Call our vision center or Contact Us and schedule a dry eye evaluation with Dr. Happ.

A Vision Center for Dry Eye Therapy

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Dry Eye Disease (DED)

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December 12, 2011

TearLab – Dry Eye (http://vimeo NULL.com/33514550) from Uptown Eye Care (http://vimeo NULL.com/user8323343).

Healthy eyes have a constant layer of tears, or “tear film” that keeps them nourished and protected. An unbalanced tear film will be manifest in ocular discomfort and damage to the surface of your eyes. This condition is known as Dry Eye Disease. The best way to measure the extent of this imbalance is to have your eye doctor measure your tear film osmolarity, according to Dr. Elaine Happ.

“Using the results of tear osmolarity testing, we implement a treatment program using Omega 3 supplements and tear replacement drops “ says Dr. Happ. “Depending on the severity of the condition, we may also recommend punctal plugs, anti-inflammatory drops or prescription strength artificial tears.”

Some factors that contribute to Dry Eye Disease are ones we cannot control, like aging and gender (women are more likely to suffer from DED). Some medications and radiation therapies can contribute to the condition. Other factors known to affect the health of our tear film are intense visual concentration, such as TV watching and computer use, a diet low in vitamin A and omega 3 fatty acids, exposure to dry and windy environments, smoking, and having refractive surgery, such as LASIK.

Dr. Elaine Happ specializes in diagnosing and treating Dry Eye Disease and Uptown Eye Care is registered as an Accredited Dry Eye Center.

TearLab LogoAccredited TearLab Dry Eye Center

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Women Are Three Times More Likely To Suffer Dry Eye Syndrome Than Men

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May 11, 2010

Everyone experiences the symptoms from time to time: burning, irritable eyes. The sensation that something is actually scratching the eye. But for some three million American women the symptoms are chronic, according to Dr. Elaine Happ, Optometrist. These women suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome

“Tears are essential for good eye health,” Dr. Elaine Happ said. “They lubricate the eye, protect it from infections and wash away allergens. With Dry Eye Syndrome, the eyes produce too few tears or tears of such poor quality that they don’t stay on the eye. Ironically, some people with Dry Eye Syndrome may actually experience tears running down their cheeks.”

Everyone experiences reduced tear production as they age, but women are more prone to Dry Eye Syndrome than men by a 3 to 1 margin. Studies have shown that hormone therapy may increase the incidence of Dry Eye Syndrome, as can birth control pills, blood pressure medicines, antihistamines and certain anti-depressants.

“April is Women’s Eye Health Awareness Month and we want women to know there are several options for managing Dry Eye Syndrome,” Dr. Elaine Happ said.

Those options include lubricating drops that can minimize the dry, scratchy sensation and prescription eye drops that can actually increase tear production.

“Through a procedure called lacrimal occlusion, we can also temporarily or permanently close the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining away to quickly Dr. Elaine Happ said.

Dr. Elaine Happ practices at Uptown Eye Care located at 560 Cedar Street Mall in Monticello and is a member of Vision Source, the nation’s number one network of private practice optometrists. Founded in 1991, The Vision Source network includes more than 1,500 offices in all 50 states and in Canada.

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