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Dry Eye Treatment in Wilmington

Offering Lasting Relief For Dry, Itchy & Gritty Eyes

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Tired of your eyes constantly watering?

Want to find a solution for your red, dry, itchy eyes?

Dry eye disease can seriously harm your quality of life. It can cause severe irritation and even infection in severe cases.

Symptoms of dry eye disease include:

  • Red, dry eyes
  • Itchiness in and around the eye
  • A gritty-feeling in the eye
  • Light sensitivity
  • Excessive watering of the eyes

Visit Heller EyeCare for effective and lasting dry eye relief.

lady with dry eyes

Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

How Dry Eye Disease Develops & How to Treat It

man with dry eye sneeze

Dry eye disease is an increasingly common eye condition that can happen either because the eye is not producing enough tears, or because tears are evaporating too quickly, leaving the eyes without enough moisture to function comfortably.

This can happen for several reasons including allergies, side effects from medications, hormonal changes, and illness.

Depending on the cause and exact symptoms of your dry eyes, our Wilmington eye doctors will be able to prescribe treatments and medications aimed at increasing the amount of tears your eye produces and/or slowing the evaporation of tears to better hydrate your eyes.


What Are the Main Causes of Dry Eye?

  • Aging

    Dry eye disease tends to affect people over the age of 50. This is because tear production slows as we age. As the lacrimal glands produce fewer tears, dry eye develops.

  • Hormonal changes

    It's not uncommon for some women to experience dry eye symptoms during pregnancy, menopause, or while using birth control pills. That's because hormone imbalances can reduce tear production.

  • Autoimmune disease

    Certain autoimmune diseases, like Sjögren’s syndrome, can cause white blood cells to attack your tear glands, thus reducing tear production. Other diseases like arthritis, lupus, and diabetes can also cause poor or insufficient tear production.

  • Medications

    Certain medications can reduce mucus production (one of the 3 tear components) thus contributing to chronic dry eye.

    They include antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, and beta-blockers.

Note that this is just a handful of causes. There are many other factors that can contribute to dry eye, including pollution and dry air, allergies, poor tear quality, dehydration, contact lens wear, and more.


Dry Eyes Treatment in Wilmington

Our optometry practice in Wilmington

Photograph of Suraj S.  Afshar
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Nov. 23 Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Davis Vision
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Mass General Brigham Health Plan
Patient Reviews
4.9
45 Reviews
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- Sep. 13, 2023
I had a good experience with all the staff I met at my recent visit as they were friendly and fully ... answered all questions I had.
- Aug. 11, 2023
Best care around
- Jul. 13, 2023
Very friendly, professional and knowledgeable!
- Jul. 07, 2023
Professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Dr Afshar and staff are an absolute p... leasure!
- Jun. 12, 2023
Very friendly and caring staff. I highly recommend !!
- Jun. 08, 2023
Love Dr Marron-Curdo. Very knowledgeable clinician. Started years ago with her when my young son nee... ded glasses and he was very comfortable with her! Now I go and enjoy a pleasant office experience!
- Feb. 16, 2022
Kind people.
- Jan. 13, 2022
I had an incredible experience with Dr. Afshar, and I am so glad I found this office. I am extremely... nearsighted and have astigmatism, and my previous Optometrist (of about 25 years) has only been able to correct my vision to 20/40 for as long as I can remember, but my vision with contacts was still never crisp or totally clear. He recommended I try to find a doctor who specializes in hard contact lenses, so I decided to get a second opinion. I saw Dr. Afshar today and am so impressed by his knowledge and experience. He is EXTREMELY kind and understanding and so patient when answering questions. I never felt rushed at all. The technology he uses seems to be light-years ahead of what I’m used to, and I actually cried happy tears when he told me I was reading letters from the 20/25 line. I feel as though he genuinely wants to help me achieve the best possible vision, and I haven’t felt that way in a long time. I am so appreciative and so excited to finally be able to see the world around me in better detail. Thank you so much, Dr. Afshar!
- Apr. 08, 2021
I went in for an appointment and it was so smooth! I got my contacts delivered to my door before I e... ven ran out of the sample pairs Dr. Afshar gave me. The optician was also incredibly easy to work with and I was really happy they had almost every eyeglass frame trend for Spring/Summer that I've seen online.
- Sep. 02, 2020
I need an eye exam with a short notice and the secretary at Heller Eyecare manages to provide me a s... lot even though their regular schedule is full. What impresses me even more is the service they provide. The secretary, technician and eye doctor are all fantastic! Great job!
- May. 20, 2020
Dr afshar personal yet professional.. great experience every time I go
- Jan. 13, 2020
The best optometrist we’ve been to! They go out of their way to accommodate and helped find the be... st glasses for my daughter. Her glasses were under warranty when they broke, but we had moved out of state and Heller still made sure we got her new frames and swapped out her lenses and sent them to us! I’m sad to have moved because we were always very pleased with their friendly service and the way they always put their patients first.
- Dec. 31, 2019
This is a wonderful practice. I stumbled upon it while looking for a contact lens exam close to my ... house. Dr. Suraj Afshar is kind, professional, knowledgeable about all things eye, and genuinely wants to help you. I was blown away by this last quality. He truly went above and beyond to find a brand of contacts I was comfortable wearing. When I got home, my husband decided to also make an appointment and he had a very similar experience. Cannot recommend this place enough and so happy we've found a great spot down the street for all of our eye care needs. Look no further!
- Oct. 18, 2019
This morning I had an excellent experience with Dr. Suraj Afshar. He is highly informed and made my ... trip to the doctor as painless as possible! No pressure to buy anything, highly consultative. I'd recommend Heller Eyecare to all of my friends and family in need of primary care.
- Jun. 18, 2019
State of the art care. No drops in the eyes...no driving home with sun glasses and blurry vision. Mo... re than that you get a complete understanding of the "health" of your eyes. Highly recommended.
- Oct. 11, 2018
Wonderful practice! Very thorough and really listen to what we need! Both Drs. Fantastic. Always ... looking for ways for me to save money too!
- Aug. 24, 2018
I love the staff, I love the doctors, always amazing service and great selection of glasses! Highly ... recommended!
- Mar. 01, 2018
Omg this place is the best great staff great doctors sorry i only get to visit once a year!!
- Nov. 17, 2017
All of Heller Eyecare’s professionals provide knowledgeable, patient, friendly service and quality... care that you can rely on. An all-around pleasant experience every time!
- Oct. 02, 2017
Dr. Marron is terrific, very nice and very thorough , !!

View All 45 Reviews

Dry Eyes FAQs

Can I still wear contact lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

Yes, some people can still wear contact lenses with dry eye syndrome. However, depending on its severity, you may need to carefully select the adequate contact lens for optimal clarity and comfort.

Oftentimes, because contact lenses sit on the eye, it's difficult for vital oxygen to reach the eye. This can worsen dry eye symptoms, and increase the risk of scratching or otherwise damaging your eye. Make sure to ask your eye doctor which contact lenses are most adapted to your condition.

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome. There are, however, many treatment options that offer lasting dry eye relief.

Can dry eye syndrome cause blindness?

In rare extreme cases, dry eye syndrome can cause corneal ulcers. These ulcers can result in scarring on the eye, making it difficult for the cornea to focus light accurately. If left untreated, corneal ulcers and the associated scarring can result in blindness.

How can I prevent dry eye symptoms?

Below are a few tips that will help prevent dry eye symptoms:

  • Point fans, heaters, and air vents so that they don’t directly blow into your eyes
  • Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
  • Stay properly hydrated
  • Take breaks during long tasks, especially those that require extended visual focus

senior couple with dry eye

Don't suffer in silence

Contact us for lasting dry eye relief!

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