MEDICAL EYE CARE
Find the reason behind the irritation.
Dry eye can cause burning, grittiness, and fluctuating blur when the tear film does not keep the eye surface comfortable and healthy. Similar symptoms can have different causes, so evaluation comes first.
COMMON SYMPTOMS
Burning or gritty eyes
TESTING FOCUS
Tears, lids, and the eye surface
CARE GOAL
Comfort and steadier vision
On this page: Why eyes can feel dry · What an evaluation may involve · Treatment options · What improvement looks like
Why eyes can feel dry
The eyes may not produce enough tears, or the tears may not work well. Screen use, the environment, contact lenses, medications, and other health conditions can contribute. Tell your clinician when symptoms are worst and what you have already tried.
Bring the bottles or names of any eye drops you use. A clear history helps avoid simply adding another product without understanding the problem.
What an evaluation may involve
Your clinician may examine the eyelids and eye surface and assess tear quantity and stability. Depending on the concern, testing may include tear breakup time or a strip test to measure tear production.
For a tear breakup test, dye helps show how quickly the tear film becomes uneven after a blink. A Schirmer test uses a small paper strip to measure wetting. You may be asked to avoid certain drops beforehand; follow the instructions supplied for your appointment.
Treatment options
We provide medical evaluation and follow-up in Torrington. When advanced procedural care is needed, we coordinate with our selected referral and co-management network. Treatment depends on your examination.
Lubrication & daily habits
Artificial tears, gels, or ointments may help. Screen breaks and reducing exposure to smoke, wind, or dry air can also be useful. Your clinician can help select an approach suited to the cause and frequency of symptoms.
Treatments available at Torrington Eyecare
Prescription therapy
We offer pharmaceutical dry-eye treatment. Your clinician selects medication based on the cause, eye-surface findings, and response to earlier care.
Punctal plugs
Small plugs can reduce tear drainage in suitable patients. We discuss whether retaining more tears fits your diagnosis and follow-up needs.
Bandage contact lenses
A therapeutic lens can protect the eye surface in selected cases. It requires clinical supervision and follow-up because infection and other complications can occur.
Amniotic membranes
For selected ocular-surface problems, an amniotic membrane may support healing. This is a treatment for specific findings, not a routine first step for every dry eye.
Ask about temporary blur or discomfort, follow-up timing, and symptoms that require a prompt call. More complex corneal disease can be coordinated with a selected corneal specialist.
What improvement looks like
The aim is better comfort, a healthier surface, and less interruption to everyday tasks. Your plan may need adjustment rather than a single visit and a permanent cure.
Keep track of when symptoms occur and whether reading, screen work, or contact lens wear becomes easier. Bring that information to follow-up so the clinician can judge whether the plan is helping.
Pain, light sensitivity, or a new persistent reduction in vision should not automatically be assumed to be dry eye. Seek prompt clinical advice.
Questions patients ask
What should I tell the office when I call?
Describe how long symptoms have lasted, whether one or both eyes are affected, any contact lens use, and whether there is pain or a change in vision.
Which treatment will work best for me?
That depends on the examination. Ask what is causing your symptoms and how the proposed treatment addresses that finding.
PATIENT EDUCATION SOURCES
NEI: Dry eye ↗ · NEI: Testing for dry eye ↗ · CDC: Pink eye treatment ↗ · AAO EyeWiki: Amniotic membrane ↗
Educational content updated September 2026. Your diagnosis and care plan require an individual examination.