Dry, itchy, irritated eyes? You’re not alone.
In an era where screen time dominates our days and environmental stressors are everywhere, dry eye disease is becoming increasingly common—and disruptive. “It seems like it’s as prevalent as ever,” says Dr. Yuna Rapoport, MD, MPH, founder and director of Manhattan Eye. “More and more people are spending more time on screens and have sort of unhealthy habits at home.”
On a recent episode of The Dry Eye Podcast, Dr. Rapoport shared why dry eye is often misunderstood, how to get a proper diagnosis, and the latest treatments helping patients finally find relief.
More Than Just Eye Drops
Many patients think their fluctuating vision or discomfort is a simple case of needing new glasses or contacts. “They come in thinking their prescription is off,” says Dr. Rapoport, “but it’s actually their dry eye that’s causing the problem.”
Dry eye symptoms can range from burning and itching to a sensation like sand in the eye. It can even cause blurry vision and difficulty wearing contacts. Yet the root causes vary—and identifying the type of dry eye is crucial. Some people have evaporative dry eye (where the tears don’t stay on the eye long enough), while others have aqueous deficiency (where not enough tears are produced at all).
Step One: Diagnosis
Dr. Rapoport emphasizes that seeing an eye doctor early is essential. “Instead of self-treating and using lubricating drops,” she says, “we’re able to get to the core cause right away and save you months of trial and error.”
If at- home treatments don’t bring relief, she often turns to advanced prescription therapies like Cequa or Tyrvaya, and sometimes recommends in-office procedures for longer-lasting results.
Game-Changing In-Office Treatments
For many, in-office procedures can be the key to real relief. “A lot of patients say, ‘You can do a procedure in the office and that’s going to minimize the amount of work I have to do at home? Let’s do that,’” she says.
Some of her go-to treatments include:
- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Radiofrequency Therapy to stimulate oil gland function and reduce inflammation.
- TearCare and BlephEx, which help liquefy and remove thick oil or debris from the meibomian glands.
- Punctal plugs, which help retain natural tears on the surface of the eye longer.
“These aren’t just surface-level solutions,” she explains. “They actually help cure the underlying disease.”
Real-Life Success Stories
Dr. Rapoport has seen transformative results firsthand. One patient, an athlete training for a marathon, suffered from severe contact lens-related keratitis. “She couldn’t run in glasses,” she recalls, “and couldn’t wear contacts anymore. We did a refractive procedure called SMILE, and now she is training again—dry eye-free.”
Another patient battled chronic styes and blepharitis. “We did a series of IPL and radiofrequency treatments, and it (helped) their glands,” she said. “Now they don’t get styes, their vision is clear, and their symptoms are gone.”
Everyday Habits Matter Too
Of course, prevention is still part of the equation. Dr. Rapoport recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. She also advises lowering your computer screen below eye level and using lubricating drops throughout the day. And when it comes to contact lenses? “Dailies are better than monthlies. But if you can, switch to glasses at home—or consider LASIK.”
Dry eye may be common, but it’s not something you have to live with. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, comfort and clarity can be restored.
For more insights, listen to The Dry Eye Podcast with Julie Loffredi featuring Dr. Yuna Rapoport.
