Bolt Eye Group · Dry Eye Care
Relief for dry, burning, tired eyes
Dry eye is one of the most common reasons people see us. We find out why your eyes feel the way they do, then build a treatment plan around the cause.
Common signsBurning, grittiness, watering
Our approachFind the cause, then treat it
OfficesAll five locations
What is dry eye?
Your tears are not doing their job.
Healthy tears have a water layer, an oil layer and a mucus layer. When there are not enough tears, or the oil glands in your eyelids do not work well, tears evaporate too fast and the surface of the eye gets irritated.
Burning or stinging
A sandy, gritty or burning feeling, often worse at the end of the day.
Watery eyes
Strange but true: irritated eyes often make extra watery tears that do not protect the eye.
Blurry vision that clears
Vision that blurs while reading or on screens and clears when you blink.
Red, tired eyes
Redness, heavy lids and eye fatigue, especially with screens.
Contact lens trouble
Lenses that feel uncomfortable or that you cannot wear as long as you used to.
Light sensitivity
Glare and discomfort in bright light or wind.
Common causes
Why eyes get dry.
- Long hours on computers and phones (we blink less when we stare at screens)
- Meibomian gland dysfunction, where the oil glands in the eyelids get clogged
- Age and hormone changes
- Medicines such as antihistamines, some blood pressure medicines and antidepressants
- Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s
- Contact lens wear, past eye surgery, fans, heat and dry air
Treatment
A plan built around your eyes.
There is no single fix for dry eye. After we examine your tear film, lids and eye surface, we recommend the treatments that fit your cause, and we follow up to see what is working.
Daily care
The right artificial tears, warm compresses and lid hygiene to keep the oil glands flowing.
Prescription drops
Prescription medicines that calm inflammation and help your eyes make better tears.
Punctal plugs
Tiny plugs in the tear drains that keep your own tears on the eye longer.
Lifestyle changes
Screen breaks, blinking exercises, humidity and nutrition changes that support the tear film.
Better contact lenses
Switching to daily lenses or a different material, or to scleral lenses for severe dry eye.
Care for related problems
Treating eyelid inflammation, allergies or other conditions that make dry eye worse.
Questions
Dry eye questions.
Why do my eyes water if they are dry?
When the eye surface is irritated, it sends a signal to make reflex tears. Those watery tears do not have the oil and mucus that keep tears on the eye, so the eye stays irritated.
Are over-the-counter drops enough?
Sometimes. But some drops that “get the red out” can make things worse with regular use. Your doctor can tell you which drops fit your type of dry eye.
Is dry eye covered by insurance?
Dry eye is a medical condition, so the visit is usually billed to your medical insurance instead of your vision plan.
Will dry eye go away?
Dry eye is often a long-term condition, but most people feel much better with the right daily routine and treatment.
Five offices · Book online any time
Book a dry eye visit
Pick your office to book online, or call or text us. Same-day visits are available for red, painful or injured eyes.
2255 Sewell Mill Rd, Suite 310
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri · 8 – 5
770-578-1900
Book East Cobb
We accept VSP, EyeMed, Medicare and most major medical plans (BCBS, Aetna, UHC, Cigna, Humana), plus Davis, Spectera and other vision plans. HSA/FSA cards and CareCredit welcome.