New NSU clinic treats dry eye

A new clinic at Nova Southeastern University in Davie is tackling an irritating condition that affects the eyes.

Under the supervision of Dr. Chandra Mickles, an optometrist and associate professor, the recently opened Dry Eye Care Center will provide services for patients suffering from what is known as dry eye.

While the complex condition affects millions, Mickles said some individuals might not even be aware that they have it. Still, she said it is one of the leading reasons behind patient visits to eye care professionals.

“About half of my patients that I see, they have the signs of dry eye and we see the damage occurring but they don’t know that they have the dry eye,” said Mickles.

Dry eye is often accompanied by redness, itchiness, and a burning or stinging sensation, as well as an insufficient production of tears. As for why it happens, Mickles said there are so many possible causes that treatment of the condition requires an individualistic approach.

It could be anything from diabetes to blocked glands, certain medications, or Sjogren’s Syndrome, an immune system disorder characterized by dry eyes and mouth. Dry or hotweather in South Florida can also be a culprit, especially because of excessive use of air conditioning.

Digital devices, such as cellphones or computers, can also be responsible for the symptoms patients experience.

“Patients that use digital devices, they don’t blink enough or don’t blink completely. The tears evaporate quickly and then that leads to dry eye,” said Mickles.

Whatever the cause, Mickles recommends individuals should be evaluated should they start noticing burning, irritated eyes or some sort of foreign-body sensation. She also said to avoid self-prescribing or using medicine without a doctor’s recommendation, especially eye drops, as it could actually worsen the redness.

If left untreated, dry eye can progress to the point of causingdamageto the cornea, the front surface of the eye. This can lead to visual impairment.

“We’re noticing a lot of dry eye requires maintenance of care similar to dentistry, [where] you have to stay in front of it and stay on it with brushing your teeth and getting your regular checkup and teeth cleaning,” Mickles said.

The new Dry Eye Care Center is within TheEyeCare Institute in Davie, located at 3200 South University Drive. Most insurances are accepted and a sliding pay scale is available to those in need.