Vision Therapy in Evanston

Spotting the Signs of Dry Eye

(847) 859-6877

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 Evanston Eye Wellness 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.

Patient Reviews
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157 Reviews
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- Dec. 16, 2024
Evanston Eye Wellness is a friendly and thorough service. They take the time needed to assess your ... needs and provide timely deliveries. They also manage an intricate sliding scale for those of us whose finances are in the “more limited” category.
- Dec. 12, 2024
Evanston Eye Wellness provides exceptional customer service. The staff is friendly and Dr. Patel is ... very knowledgeable. She provides various options to help optimize eye wellness. I highly recommend!
- Nov. 22, 2024
I had an exceptional experience with Dr. Patel during my recent eye exam. From the moment I walked i... nto the office, I was impressed with the welcoming atmosphere and the professionalism of the entire team. Dr. Patel takes the time to explain every part of the examination process in detail and I felt very comfortable at the end of my visit. It was her holistic approach that really impressed me. She cares about the entire health of your body and not just your eyes. It was clear that she genuinely cares about her patients' well-being. I highly recommend Dr. Patel to anyone in need of a highly skilled, caring, and thorough optometrist.
- Oct. 07, 2024
Evanston Eye Wellness was great! Everyone is super friendly and seemed to genuinely care about my vi... sit.
- Oct. 03, 2024
Really nice place with a good upscale selection of frames. Dr Patel was excellent. Thorough and prof... essional. And Kisha really helped choosing frames and getting us the best price. So glad we chose this optician.
- Aug. 16, 2024
Staff were so kind and informative.
- Jul. 29, 2024
They prioritize taking care of your eyes before trying to sell you glasses. They have a reasonable s... election of eye wear but it is not the first thing that you see when you enter the establishment.
- Jul. 29, 2024
I really enjoyed being a patient of Dr. LaBrosse for the past few years. I wish her all the best in... her new endeavors! I am usually very anxious about trying new doctors. But I decided to try an appointment with Dr. Patel since at least the location would be familiar. I am very glad I did. She is practicing in the same beautiful and clean office. Dr. Patel was very detailed and patient with all my questions. She had studied my medical records left by Dr. LaBrosse so the transition as her new patient was quite seamless. (I did have to complete a new patient intake form. But that was fine.) I was very relieved that she was so kind and easy to talk to. I felt listened to and had as much time as I needed. Dr. Patel gave me knowledgeable answers and some great new ideas, including a different brand/type of contact lens to try. Thanks, Dr. Patel!
- May. 16, 2024
Dr. Patel and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Most importantly, they are competent. Han... dled all questions and issues well. I also appreciated that they don't try to upsell services, unlike my previous eye doctor, who was obsessed with telling me I needed this or that extra diagnostic or treatment. Most importantly, Dr. Patel was the first optometrist I had who advised me that I could get "medically necessary" contact lenses covered by my insurance due to my high prescription. I can't believe my previous optometrist didn't do this. I could have saved thousands of dollars over the past several years.
- Apr. 18, 2024
Shout out to this place and everyone who works here. The new doctor is amazing and the ladies at the... front office are super nice and helpful! Highly recommended!
- Apr. 18, 2024
I have been going to this neighborhood Optometry practice for over 4 years now and I have always lik... ed the service and product choices. I like the previous doctor a lot, and the newest doctor Patel is great as well. Everyone at the store is nice and helpful, and they all appear to enjoy working there. I highly recommend!
- Mar. 28, 2024
Evanston Eye Wellness is a vibe
- Mar. 25, 2024
Dr. Patel is amazing and answered all my questions thoroughly!! The staff was very helpful and they ... had a great selection of frames. Will definitely be coming back.
- Mar. 22, 2024
I had a great experience with Dr.Patel. She is kind, understanding and goes out of her way to answer... all my questions. I would highly recommend her and this practice.
- Mar. 20, 2024
They make a darn good first impression - every staff member I spoke with was welcoming and helpful, ... ensuring I understood everything in the paperwork before signing. Dr. Patel put me at ease right away and offered clear explanations of my results.
- Mar. 16, 2024
Came in with my wife to look around as we are new to the area and let me tell you! The energy I rece... ived was so welcoming. I found a handful of frames I love, and the manager, Jessica, sealed the deal. You have to go yourself to experience it. I would highly recommend this place.
- Mar. 16, 2024
I absolutely love the professional service and selection of eyewear. The staff create a fun and frie... ndly atmosphere. I was recommended by a friend and will be calling to schedule my annual exam
- Mar. 15, 2024
Dr Patel is amazing and the staff really took the time to explain my benefits. Crystal was very pati... ent in selecting frames. I will definitely be returning.
- Mar. 15, 2024
Dr Patel is so thoughtful and kind. She really cares about my eye issues and answers all my question... s- no matter how ridiculous they are. The staff is very helpful and friendly.
- Jan. 06, 2024
Great staff & the the most current technology. Highly recommend!

View All 157 Reviews

Dry Eyes in Evanston

Our optometry practice in Evanston

Photograph of Himanee  Patel
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • Tricare
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Care

man putting eye drops in eyes

Consult Our Dry Eye Experts

At Evanston Eye Wellness, 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.

(847) 859-6877