Offering Lasting Relief For Dry, Itchy & Gritty Eyes
Dry Eye Treatment in Rockford
Tired of your eyes constantly watering?
Want to find a solution for your red, dry, itchy eyes?
Dry eye disease can seriously harm your quality of life. It can cause severe irritation and even infection in severe cases.
Symptoms of dry eye disease include:
- Red, dry eyes
- Itchiness in and around the eye
- A gritty-feeling in the eye
- Light sensitivity
- Excessive watering of the eyes
Visit Primary EyeCare Centers - Edgebrook for effective and lasting dry eye relief.
How Dry Eye Disease Develops & How to Treat It
Dry eye disease is an increasingly common eye condition that can happen either because the eye is not producing enough tears, or because tears are evaporating too quickly, leaving the eyes without enough moisture to function comfortably.
This can happen for several reasons including allergies, side effects from medications, hormonal changes, and illness.
Depending on the cause and exact symptoms of your dry eyes, our Rockford eye doctors will be able to prescribe treatments and medications aimed at increasing the amount of tears your eye produces and/or slowing the evaporation of tears to better hydrate your eyes.
What Are the Main Causes of Dry Eye?
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Aging
Dry eye disease tends to affect people over the age of 50. This is because tear production slows as we age. As the lacrimal glands produce fewer tears, dry eye develops.
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Hormonal changes
It's not uncommon for some women to experience dry eye symptoms during pregnancy, menopause, or while using birth control pills. That's because hormone imbalances can reduce tear production.
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Autoimmune disease
Certain autoimmune diseases, like Sjogren's syndrome, can cause white blood cells to attack your tear glands, thus reducing tear production. Other diseases like arthritis, lupus, and diabetes can also cause poor or insufficient tear production.
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Medications
Certain medications can reduce mucus production (one of the 3 tear components) thus contributing to chronic dry eye. They include antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, and beta-blockers.
Note that this is just a handful of causes. There are many other factors that can contribute to dry eye, including pollution and dry air, allergies, poor tear quality, dehydration, contact lens wear, and more.
Dry Eyes FAQs
Yes, some people can still wear contact lenses with dry eye syndrome. However, depending on its severity, you may need to carefully select the adequate contact lens for optimal clarity and comfort.
Oftentimes, because contact lenses sit on the eye, it's difficult for vital oxygen to reach the eye. This can worsen dry eye symptoms, and increase the risk of scratching or otherwise damaging your eye. Make sure to ask your eye doctor which contact lenses are most adapted to your condition.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome. There are, however, many treatment options that offer lasting dry eye relief.
In rare extreme cases, dry eye syndrome can cause corneal ulcers. These ulcers can result in scarring on the eye, making it difficult for the cornea to focus light accurately. If left untreated, corneal ulcers and the associated scarring can result in blindness.
Below are a few tips that will help prevent dry eye symptoms:
- Point fans, heaters, and air vents so that they don't directly blow into your eyes
- Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
- Stay properly hydrated
- Take breaks during long tasks, especially those that require extended visual focus
Patient Reviews
4.4
802 Reviews
Patrick M. - Jul 30, 2026
I had a great experience at Primary Eye Care. Everyone I interacted with was friendly, welcoming, an... Show Mored genuinely seemed to care.
I have very high astigmatism in both eyes, and eye exams have often felt rushed. At my previous appointment elsewhere, I was given a prescription that only corrected my vision to 20/50. I couldn’t see well enough with it and decided not to fill it.
I decided to give Primary Eye Care a chance, and I’m really glad I did. Even though they were busy, I was seen faster than I expected. After the initial testing, I was surprised to find that part of the exam was done with an iPad and a telehealth doctor. I wasn’t expecting that and was honestly a little skeptical at first, but the results completely changed my opinion.
They gave me the best glasses prescription I’ve ever had, correcting my vision to 20/25. The difference compared to my previous prescription has been huge.
On top of that, I thought I was going to be paying completely out of pocket. The staff took the time to double-check my insurance, found that part of my exam was covered by my medical insurance, and even helped me get an additional discount. They ended up saving me a couple hundred dollars that I otherwise would have paid.
I left impressed not only with the quality of my exam but also with how knowledgeable, honest, and helpful everyone was. I’d definitely recommend Primary Eye Care, especially if you’ve had trouble getting the right prescription elsewhere.
Abigail N. - Jul 29, 2026
Everyone was super friendly! Dr. Amie Gandhi is so kind, and Lisa was incredibly helpful. I had a gr... Show Moreeat experience!
10/10
Dry Eyes Treatment in Rockford
Don't suffer in silence
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