Dry Eye Help From Access Eye: Why It’s So Common and How Access Eye Is Building a Dedicated Dry Eye Program

Dry eye disease has become one of the most common concerns we see in our clinics. Patients often describe burning, redness, fluctuating vision, tearing, or the feeling that something is stuck in their eye. Many assume it is simply part of getting older or something they just have to live with.

In reality, dry eye is a medical condition. In our region, it is especially common due to a combination of environmental and biological factors.

Virginia’s Allergy Burden and Its Impact on Eye Health

Virginia consistently ranks among the worst regions in the country for seasonal allergies. Cities throughout the Mid-Atlantic frequently appear on national allergy rankings, and the region is known for long and intense pollen seasons.

According to national allergy monitoring data and reports from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Mid-Atlantic experiences:

• Extremely high tree pollen counts during the spring
• Long grass and weed pollen seasons that extend well into the fall
• Overlapping allergy seasons, meaning many residents experience symptoms for much of the year

In Virginia, pollen seasons can begin as early as February and continue through October. This constant exposure creates ongoing inflammation for many people and can significantly disrupt the tear film that keeps the eyes comfortable and healthy.

Allergies often worsen dry eye disease. The irritation caused by allergens leads to inflammation, unstable tears, and frequent eye rubbing, all of which can damage the surface of the eye.

Hormonal Changes and Dry Eye

Another major driver of dry eye that is often overlooked is hormonal change.

Dry eye is particularly common in women during perimenopause and menopause. Hormonal shifts during this stage of life can reduce tear production and alter the oil glands in the eyelids that help keep tears from evaporating too quickly.

Because of this, many women begin experiencing dry eye symptoms in their 40s and 50s, even if they have never had eye comfort issues before. Symptoms may include:

• Burning or stinging
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurry or fluctuating vision
• Increased tearing
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses

Hormonal changes combined with environmental factors like allergies can make dry eye symptoms more persistent and difficult to manage without proper treatment.

Listening to Our Patients and Our Team

The development of our dry eye program came from a combination of patient feedback and firsthand experience within our own practice.

Over time, we saw a significant increase in patients expressing frustration that traditional dry eye treatments were not providing meaningful relief. Artificial tears alone were rarely enough, and many patients were dealing with symptoms that were affecting their daily lives.

At the same time, many members of our own staff were experiencing similar symptoms, living in the same environment and dealing with the same allergy exposure and lifestyle factors as our patients.

Hearing these concerns from patients while seeing the same issues affecting our own team pushed us to look more closely at dry eye disease and how we could better address it.

Dry Eye Is Not One Single Condition

One of the most important things we learned is that dry eye is not a single problem with a single solution. It can develop for many different reasons, including:

• Environmental allergens
• Hormonal changes, particularly in women during perimenopause and menopause
• Inflammation of the ocular surface
• Dysfunction of the oil glands in the eyelids
• Reduced tear production
• Screen use that decreases blinking
• Contact lens wear
• Certain medications

Because dry eye can have multiple causes, successful treatment requires identifying the underlying issue rather than simply treating symptoms.

A More Comprehensive Approach to Treatment

In response to what we were seeing, Access Eye began investing in expanded diagnostics, training, and treatment options to better care for patients with dry eye disease.

Today, our evaluations focus on understanding the health of the tear film, eyelid glands, and ocular surface so that treatment can be tailored to each patient.

Depending on the cause and severity of symptoms, treatment may include:

• Medical-grade lubricating drops
• Prescription medications that reduce inflammation
• Thermal treatments that help restore healthy oil gland function
• Light-based therapies designed to improve gland health and reduce inflammation
• Lifestyle adjustments that support long-term eye comfort

The goal is not simply temporary relief but improving the overall health of the tear film and eyelids so patients experience lasting comfort and more stable vision.

A Growing Focus at Access Eye

Because of the environmental conditions in our region and the growing awareness of how many people are affected, dry eye care has become an important focus of our practice.

From seasonal allergies to hormonal changes, many patients struggle with symptoms that go far beyond occasional dryness. With proper evaluation and targeted treatment, many people who have struggled with irritation, blurred vision, or discomfort for years can see meaningful improvement.

If you experience burning, itching, redness, fluctuating vision, tearing, or eye fatigue, it may be time for a proper evaluation.

At Access Eye, our doctors and clinical team are committed to helping patients achieve clearer, more comfortable vision through comprehensive care designed to address the underlying causes of dry eye.