Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye is one of the most common and most misunderstood conditions in eye care. Too often patients are handed a drop that brings brief relief but never treats the root cause. A dedicated dry eye evaluation is built to find that cause.
Do I have dry eye?
Tap every symptom you notice. This isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a starting point for your evaluation with Dr. Noh.
Dry eye disease is common, and commonly missed.
It’s estimated that 20% of the population suffers from dry eye disease, yet only 10% are diagnosed properly, and only 5% are treated properly. Most patients search for years, often after being handed an artificial tear that did not work.
What dry eye feels like
Dry eye does not always feel dry. The most common signs are burning, redness, itching, a gritty or scratchy feeling, tired eyes on screens, contact lens discomfort, and even watering, as the eye overreacts to an unstable tear film. Symptoms that come and go, or that drops only briefly relieve, are worth a proper evaluation.
Why it happens
Dry eye is usually multifactorial. Age, hormonal changes, allergies, medications, smoking, environmental conditions, extended screen use, and a reduced blink rate all contribute. Most cases involve meibomian gland dysfunction, where the glands that make the oily layer of your tears stop working well.
Evaporative vs. aqueous-deficient
Evaporative dry eye
The oily layer of the tear film is poor and tears evaporate too fast, usually from meibomian gland dysfunction.
Aqueous-deficient dry eye
The eye does not make enough of the watery layer of the tear film. Many patients have a mix of both, which is why testing matters.
What’s behind your dry eye
Each condition has its own page explaining what it is, why it happens, and how we treat it.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
MGD is the blocked-oil-gland problem behind most dry eye, and the one most patients were never told they had.
Learn more →ConditionBlepharitis
Blepharitis is inflammation and buildup along the eyelid margin that irritates the eye and clogs the oil glands.
Learn more →ConditionDemodex Blepharitis
Tiny mites at the base of the lashes can drive stubborn itching, crusting, and lid inflammation.
Learn more →ConditionOcular Rosacea
The skin condition rosacea often affects the eyes, inflaming the lids and the oil glands.
Learn more →ConditionWatery Eyes & Reflex Tearing
Constantly watering eyes are often a sign of dryness, not too much moisture.
Learn more →ConditionContact Lens Discomfort
If your contacts feel dry or intolerable by afternoon, the ocular surface is usually the reason.
Learn more →ConditionDry Eye After LASIK or Cataract Surgery
Dryness after LASIK or cataract surgery is common, and it is treatable.
Learn more →ConditionScreen Use & Digital Eye Strain
Long screen time cuts your blink rate, drying the surface and blurring vision by the end of the day.
Learn more →ConditionHormones, Menopause & Dry Eye
Hormonal changes, especially around menopause, are a major and under-recognized driver of dry eye.
Learn more →ConditionAutoimmune & Sjogren’s-Related Dry Eye
Autoimmune conditions like Sjogren’s can cause severe aqueous-deficient dry eye that needs focused care.
Learn more →ConditionAllergy vs. Dry Eye
Allergy and dry eye feel similar and often overlap, but they are treated differently.
Learn more →A dedicated evaluation, not a routine exam
We use advanced imaging and tear-film testing to find the underlying cause of your dry eye, then match the right treatment to it.