Dry Eye
Treatment

At Southwestern Eye Center, we specialize in diagnosing and treating dry eye for patients across Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Sun City, Casa Grande, Yuma, Sierra Vista, Cottonwood, and surrounding communities.

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What is Dry Eye?

Dry eyes, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is an ocular surface disease where the eyes are not properly lubricated.

Tears play a critical role in maintaining eye health. They help:

Keep the surface of your eyes smooth and clear
Wash away debris and irritants
Protect against infection
Support sharp, stable vision

When this system is disrupted, your eyes can become inflamed and irritated, and you may be at greater risk of more serious complications. If left untreated, dry eye disease can lead to damage of the eye’s surface and, in severe cases, vision loss.

How Do You Know If You Have Dry Eyes?

Dry eye disease can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

A feeling of dryness, irritation, discomfort, burning, stinging, itchiness, or grittiness
Fluctuations in vision and or blurry/decreased vision
Redness
A feeling of eye strain or tiredness
Excessive tearing (watery eyes)
Light sensitivity
Sensitivity to wind
Discharge
Eyelids “stick together” in the morning
Contact lens intolerance

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye disease has many potential causes, but they all relate to one key issue: disruption of the tear film. Your tear film consists of three important layers that must work together.

Oil (lipid) layer

The meibomian glands in the eyelids make up the outermost layer. This oil layer helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly, which keeps the eyes lubricated and comfortable between blinks.

Water (aqueous) layer

The lacrimal glands near the upper outer part of the eye produce the middle layer. This watery layer makes up most of the tear film and helps keep the eye moist while delivering nutrients to the eye’s surface.

Mucus (mucin) layer

The innermost layer is produced by cells on the surface of the eye. This layer helps evenly spread the tear film, smooth the eye’s surface, and keep the other tear film layers stable.

The meibomian glands in the eyelids make up the outermost layer. This oil layer helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly, which keeps the eyes lubricated and comfortable between blinks.

The lacrimal glands near the upper outer part of the eye produce the middle layer. This watery layer makes up most of the tear film and helps keep the eye moist while delivering nutrients to the eye’s surface.

The innermost layer is produced by cells on the surface of the eye. This layer helps evenly spread the tear film, smooth the eye’s surface, and keep the other tear film layers stable.

Advanced Dry Eye Treatments in Arizona

At Southwestern Eye Center, dry eye treatment goes beyond temporary relief. Our specialists focus on identifying the underlying cause—often meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)—and treating it with advanced, in-office technology designed for long-term results.

We offer Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy to reduce inflammation and improve the function of oil glands that stabilize your tear film. IPL uses gentle pulses of light around the eyes to target the root cause of dryness, helping relieve symptoms like burning, redness, and fluctuating vision.

To enhance results, we also provide Radiofrequency (RF) therapy, which uses controlled heat to soften and release blocked oils within the eyelids. This improves natural tear quality and supports healthier, more consistent lubrication of the eye.

Many patients benefit from a combined IPL + RF approach, which addresses both inflammation and gland blockage for more complete relief. Depending on your needs, your personalized treatment plan may also include prescription therapies or supportive care to maintain results.

If you’re dealing with persistent dry, irritated, or watery eyes, our team can help you find a solution that works, not just a temporary fix.

How We Diagnose Dry Eye

During a dry eye evaluation, your Southwestern Eye Center provider may review your symptoms, examine the surface of your eyes, evaluate your eyelids and tear film, and look for signs of meibomian gland dysfunction, inflammation, or other conditions that may be contributing to your discomfort.

Insurance & Dry Eye Treatment

Coverage can vary based on your insurance plan, diagnosis, and recommended treatment. Many medical eye evaluations may be billed through medical insurance, while some advanced treatments may have different coverage requirements. Our team can help you understand your options before treatment.

FAQ: Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eye is a condition where your eyes do not stay properly lubricated. This can happen when your eyes do not make enough tears, when your tears evaporate too quickly, or when the tear film does not have the right balance of oil, water, and mucus.

Common dry eye symptoms include burning, stinging, redness, irritation, blurry or fluctuating vision, watery eyes, eye fatigue, light sensitivity, and a gritty feeling. Some patients also notice that their eyes feel worse in wind, dry weather, air conditioning, or after long periods of screen use.

Dry eye can happen when the tear film becomes unstable. Common causes include meibomian gland dysfunction, inflammation, aging, certain medications, long screen time, contact lens wear, dry climates, and medical conditions that affect tear production or tear quality.

During a dry eye evaluation, your provider may review your symptoms, examine the surface of your eyes, evaluate your eyelids and tear film, and look for signs of inflammation or meibomian gland dysfunction. This helps your doctor recommend treatment based on the cause of your symptoms, not just the discomfort you feel.

Dry eye treatment may include supportive care, prescription therapies, and advanced in-office treatments. Southwestern Eye Center offers options such as intense pulsed light therapy and radiofrequency therapy for certain patients, especially when inflammation or blocked oil glands contribute to dry eye symptoms.

Yes. Artificial tears may temporarily relieve dryness, but they do not always treat the underlying cause. A dry eye evaluation can help determine whether your symptoms come from tear evaporation, low tear production, inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, or another issue that may need a more targeted treatment plan.

Schedule a dry eye evaluation if your symptoms are frequent, worsening, or interfering with daily activities like reading, driving, working on screens, wearing contact lenses, or spending time outdoors. You should also schedule an exam if over-the-counter drops only provide brief relief.

Yes. Southwestern Eye Center provides dry eye evaluation and treatment for patients across Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Sun City, Casa Grande, Yuma, Sierra Vista, Cottonwood, and nearby communities. Scheduling an evaluation can help you find out what is causing your symptoms and which treatment options may fit your needs.

Senior lady posing at home close to a window after dry eye treatment.

Schedule Your Dry Eye Evaluation Today

If you’re experiencing uncomfortable dry eye symptoms, our eye doctors are here to help you find the right solution! Get started by scheduling a routine or comprehensive eye exam.

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