woman with dry eye in front of a computer

Dry Eye Treatment in Tucson

Offering Lasting Relief For Dry, Itchy & Gritty Eyes

(520) 296-4157

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 Alvernon Optical - Tanque Verde for effective and lasting dry eye relief.

lady with dry eyes

How Dry Eye Disease Develops & How to Treat It

man with dry eye sneeze

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 Tucson 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?

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Autoimmune disease

    Certain autoimmune diseases, like Sjögren’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.

  • 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

Can I still wear contact lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

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.

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome. There are, however, many treatment options that offer lasting dry eye relief.

Can dry eye syndrome cause blindness?

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.

How can I prevent dry eye symptoms?

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

Meet our Dry Eyes Specialist

Patient Reviews
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297 Reviews
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- Jun. 05, 2025
I felt listened to. Everyone I delt with addressed my concerns and aanswered all of my questions. T... he best Alvernon Optical location is the one on Tanque Verde.
- May. 20, 2025
Great place to go for vision wear!
- May. 08, 2025
Me and my children have made these guys our primary. The staff is so friendly and professional. We h... ave never had a wait time for appointments and the doctors are always on time and professional. They do a great job helping the kids understand the diagnosis and/or prescription results. Great selection of glasses and we have never waited more then a few days to get our orders in. Love them 🙂
- Apr. 14, 2025
They always do their very best to make sure the customer is happy
- Apr. 04, 2025
Dr Lewis is great. Very professional atmosphere.
- Mar. 25, 2025
Great care and almost no wait time with appointment! The staff here is amazing!
- Mar. 11, 2025
Quick and efficient! Highly recommend!
- Feb. 23, 2025
Efficient and clear while still taking care to listen and explain things
- Feb. 12, 2025
Dr Lewis and the office staff are on point! If you want your eyes check by the best go to Alvernon O... ptical. My wife and I have been with Dr. Lewis for 10 years now and couldn’t think of seeing somebody else.
- Jan. 28, 2025
Fantastic customer service! Staff is friendly and very helpful.
- Nov. 30, 2024
Always efficient and friendly! Been going to this location for many years now, never had any issues....
- Nov. 22, 2024
Excellent communication and customer focus… very organized and efficient… superb!
- Nov. 21, 2024
They have always delivered outstanding personal customer service, and recently, Dr.Lewis found a con... tact lens that has me back in contacts for the first time in a decade. It’s been a game changer.
- Nov. 09, 2024
Great service and very friendly!
- Nov. 07, 2024
Good service and friendly staff. Will go back.
- Oct. 21, 2024
The service was great. I walked in and got my eye exam very quickly. The workers also go out of thei... r way to help you out.
- Sep. 17, 2024
Friendly and efficient staff
- Sep. 05, 2024
Everyone is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Dr. Peterson is an absolute joy, and I love havin... g her as my optometrist. I enjoy my visits so much every year that I pick out a new pair of frames every time. Ian has also been great at helping me pick out what frames best suit my face and match my style. Booking an appointment is easy, and most paperwork is done on a tablet. Although they don't have a huge selection of glasses frames, I've never had an issue of finding one I didn't like.
- Aug. 30, 2024
Dr. J. Lewis and Mary...both very professional, very helpful!
- Aug. 27, 2024
Very pleasant and professional. It was easy to schedule and find a time I needed. The staff were fri... endly and the doctor was very helpful and had great bedside manner. They broke down the insurance and what was covered and there was no pressure to buy anything.

View All 297 Reviews

Dry Eyes Treatment in Tucson

Our optometry practice in Tucson

Photograph of Sharon Peterson
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Davis Vision
  • Avesis
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

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Don't suffer in silence

Contact us for lasting dry eye relief!

(520) 296-4157