Vision Therapy in Alton

Spotting the Signs of Dry Eye

(618) 462-7611

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 Crown Vision Center - Alton 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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459 Reviews
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- Dec. 11, 2024
Best place to go. These ladies are so kind and patient! 10/10 recommend
- Nov. 09, 2024
A+ very professional friendly and knowledgeable..
- Oct. 29, 2024
Great staff! Efficient and very knowledgeable about insurance. Staff is very accommodating! I wouldn... ’t go anywhere else. Dr. Levi knows what she is doing!
- Oct. 10, 2024
I was on a riverboat cruise and had lost a pad on the nose piece of my glasses. I had suffered for ... 2 days when we arrived in Alton. I took a chance and walked into Crown Vision Center, hoping they might make a repair for a decent price. I was greeted quickly and with kindness. When I explained my problem, the young lady said " I'll repair/replace both nose pads, just give me a minute". She did it in less than five minutes and would not charge me a cent! I would definitely make this my vision center of choice. Thanks you so much for your help and Midwestern hospitality.
- Sep. 15, 2024
Initial Kindergarten vision exam went smooth. Now the only doctor that my 5-yr-old daughter Jade is ... not scared to visit.
- Sep. 04, 2024
Katie was super quick, efficient, and very kind! She also found a few coupons to help with my glasse... s and contacts! The rest of the staff was also very friendly and professional.
- Sep. 03, 2024
Been going for years. Drove from Springfield IL to Alton because they was the only ones that heard m... e about my care. Thank you for listening and hearing me. 💚
- Jul. 27, 2024
Excellent staff! I love the Alton office!
- Jul. 17, 2024
Great place to get your eye's checked out and your eye need's
- Jun. 08, 2024
Katie was so professional, helpful and made my experience so easy with my insurance. She was the rea... son why I had such a pleasant experience and I would highly recommend Crown.
- May. 02, 2024
Always quick and the most helpful
- Mar. 29, 2024
My son and I love our treatment and glasses the team was wonderful
- Mar. 29, 2024
quick easy and nice people
- Mar. 21, 2024
The staff are very pleasant! Exceptional customer service!!
- Feb. 15, 2024
Good place
- Jan. 20, 2024
Friendly, fast service.
- Jan. 11, 2024
Dr. Levi and her staff are very professional and friendly
- Dec. 20, 2023
I was worried my Lined Bifocals would be dorky looking, lol, but I was surprised and impressed that ... they were discreet and barely noticeable, save your money and just go with the lined ones if you need them, also EVERYONE at Crown was friendly & professional. 🤓
- Dec. 18, 2023
Nice knowledgeable staff
- Nov. 12, 2023
Great place

View All 459 Reviews

Dry Eyes in Alton

Our optometry practice in Alton

Photograph of Christina  Levi
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • Metlife
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed

man putting eye drops in eyes

Consult Our Dry Eye Experts

At Crown Vision Center - Alton, 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.

(618) 462-7611