Vision Therapy in Barrington

Spotting the Signs of Dry Eye

(847) 382-2020

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 Tabak Optometry 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
4.6
45 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Dec. 22, 2024
Straight forward and knowledgeable. Friendly staff. Would go back and recommend to anyone.
- Oct. 25, 2024
I highly recommend anyone to Dr Tabak. Very knowledgeable and his staff is very friendly.
- Oct. 15, 2024
Excellent doctor and staff. Eye exams are thorough. All questions and concerns are always addressed.... Highly recommend.
- Sep. 30, 2024
He is the absolute best, including the use of all of the modern diagnostic and assessment technologi... es.
- Sep. 28, 2024
I highly recommend Dr Tabak. He explains things clearly and doesnt rush. His staff is great and the ... prescription glasses i now have are above average for clarity and fit.
- Sep. 26, 2024
Very friendly team that worked quickly and efficiently!
- Sep. 15, 2024
Awesome group. Very knowledgeable and helpful!!!
- Sep. 13, 2024
Dr Tabak and staff listened to my concerns asking for details. At this appointment for a medical iss... ue I was given a good solution.
- Oct. 17, 2022
Dr. Tabak is extremely knowledgeable and thorough. He explains what each individual eye test is for ... and what outcomes are in normal range and what to keep an eye out for in the future. Hi staff is friendly and efficient.
- Apr. 23, 2022
Just switched over from another eye care center and was very happy with our experience for the whole... family.
- Dec. 14, 2021
Very modern equipment, nice office and very good eye exam. Doctor has excellent communications skill... s. The doctor visit exceeded my expectations. I found the doctor using Google search. The positive reviews were well deserved. Highly recommended.
- Dec. 18, 2020
Wonderful eye doctor!!! Excellent cutting edge knowledge, in depth exam, above & beyond customer ser... vice from the entire staff. Very clean office, and perfect location.
- Nov. 28, 2020
Great and friendly doctor, and wonderful and friendly staff. Highly recommend! I plan on using the... m as my primary vision care from now on.
- Aug. 11, 2020
I've been coming here for years...great doctors, great staff, great eyewear!
- Nov. 01, 2019
Outstanding eye doctor, always ahead of the curve on new equipment, procedures and treatment. Examin... ations are always thorough with each step explained so the patient knows what is happening and what the results are. The office environment is comfortable with help and guidance from the full staff.....It has been a pleasure to have Dr. Tabak taking care of my Family for the past 20+ years....
- Oct. 15, 2019
Very efficient, yet thorough. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.
- Feb. 13, 2019
The exam was quick and accurate. Picking frames was painless. Dr. Tabak and the staff are friendly. ... I found a new eye doctor for the entire family.
- Jul. 03, 2018
My wife Julie and I have been seeing Dr. Tabak for years. Julie just had an appointment yesterday a... nd was very pleased with the thorough examination. Dr. Tabak always takes his time and answers all questions quickly and professionally!
- Aug. 27, 2016
Thank u Dr T.... For working me into ur schedule in less than 24 hours... Being sooo thorough... Exp... laining all the testing u did and diagnosing my eye problem... And of course injecting ur humor into my appointment.... See u next summer!
- Feb. 22, 2016
I've been a patient of Dr. Tabak since 1995. He and his staff have always provided the utmost in pr... ofessional, thorough optometry services. Dr. Tabak spends time listening to any concerns and/or new developments with my eyes and prescribes the appropriate next steps. I would highly recommend entrusting your optometry needs to Dr. Tabak and his caring staff.

View All 45 Reviews

Dry Eyes in Barrington

Our optometry practice in Barrington

Photograph of David  J. Tabak
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday Closed
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • EyeMed
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Medicare
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Cigna
  • Humana
  • Anthem
  • UMR
  • Humana Military & Tricare
  • Medicare Supplement

man putting eye drops in eyes

Consult Our Dry Eye Experts

At Tabak Optometry, 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.

(847) 382-2020