Dry Eye

Dr. Fisher and his staff have been specifically trained to not only diagnose, but also determine the underlying cause of Dry Eye. Because we have a specialty focus on treating this condition we employ cutting edge procedures and offer specific treatment regimens to alleviate the symptoms of Dry Eye.

Dry Eye syndrome or dry eye disease, is a common condition that occurs when the eyes don’t make enough tears OR the tears evaporate too quickly. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the eye’s front surface and for providing clear, comfortable vision. Dry Eye is a very common disease affecting 25-30% of all people over the age of 40; women more so than men.

There is presently no cure for dry eye disease. Our approach is to determine the cause of YOUR dry eye and target treatment at those causes to relieve your symptoms.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry Eye is a common issue that patients of all ages can experience. Symptoms can vary, but common symptoms include:

  • Itchy, irritated, dry, or red eyes
  • Inflammation around the eye
  • Watery eyes
  • Sore or sensitive eyes
  • Crusty eyes
  • Blurriness
  • Burning sensation in the eye

Some patients experience these symptoms only on an occasional basis, but others may have a chronic issue. Seeking treatment is important to not only relieve pain and irritation, but also to preserve your vision and prevent against future flare ups.

We also perform temporary and non-dissolving punctual plugs. These are used to close the ducts that help with the overflow of tears. If you stop the tears from draining out of your eye, you will have more tears in your eyes. We start with a temporary one to see if it is going to help before trying a more permanent arrangement.

If necessary, we may also prescribe a medication for chronic dry eyes. We may also talk to you about other medications and your nutrition. Many supplements have been helpful for patients with dry eye.

If you have any question about dry eye or would like to be seen, please contact us today at (337) 237-2110.

What Causes Dry Eye?

In today’s day and age, we are constantly looking at our phones, reading, or partaking in activities that require a great deal of effort from our eyes. Going long periods of time without blinking when using a phone or tablet can be a huge contributing factor to dry eye, as well as a variety of other lifestyle factors and overuse. However, not all causes of dry eye are linked to our activities. Factors such as age, gender, medical conditions, medications, and environmental irritants can also contribute to dry eye. For some patients, dry eye is simply caused by poor tear quality and volume, or even just because they wear contact lenses. In other words, dry eye cannot always be prevented, but it can be controlled.

Meet Our Doctor

Dr. Fisher was born in Jennings, Louisiana to David and Shirley Fisher, owners and operators of Fisher Early Childhood Development Center here in Lafayette. At six months of age his family moved to Lafayette and he has been here since. Dr. Fisher graduated from Acadiana High School and received his Bachelor of Science from U.S.L. (now UL Lafayette). He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry, a private college in Memphis, TN.

 
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