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Dry Eye Clinic In San Francisco

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition, especially in women. Schedule a dry eye evaluation at City Optometry's Dry Eye Clinic to see which of the many treatment options are right for your condition.

Proudly serving California’s San Francisco County for over two decades!

Signs And Symptoms Of Dry Eye


People with dry eyes may also experience a "foreign body sensation" - the feeling that something is in the eye. And it may seem odd, but sometimes dry eye syndrome can cause watery eyes because the excessive dryness is made worse with heated air, wind or the cold in the mornings etc. This increase in irritation causes an over-stimulation in the production of the watery component of your eye's tears.

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What Causes Dry Eyes?

Just because you're in California, doesn't mean the sun is the only cause for you to have irritable, dry eyes. In dry eye syndrome, the tear glands that moisturize the eye don't produce enough tears, or the tears have a chemical composition that causes them to evaporate too quickly.

Dry eye syndrome has several causes. It occurs:





Dry eye has also been associated with incomplete lid closure following blepharoplasty - a popular cosmetic surgery to eliminate droopy eyelids.

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How To Prevent Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes is a very common condition. Proper tear ducts include oil, water, and mucus. When you blink, your eye is properly lubricated with those three items. When any of those liquids are off, it leads to issues with moisture on the eye which leads to dry eyes.

The following tips are ways you can prevent and avoid dry eyes:

  • Wind can dry out the eye. If you need to be in a windy area, try wearing sunglasses
  • A big culprit is allergies, particularly pollen
  • Insufficient blinking, such as when you're staring at a computer screen all day. Take breaks from looking at the computer
  • Avoid excessive ceiling fan use
  • Don't overwear your contact lenses
  • Check if a medication you are taking can cause dry eyes

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Treatments For Dry Eyes In San Francisco

We see tons of patients in our downtown San Francisco clinic complaining of symptoms related to dry eyes - itchiness, redness, grittiness, even excessive tearing. Dry eyes is a chronic condition that gets worse with age, meaning there is no cure for it. However, there are treatments to help you manage dry eyes.

There are two different types of dry eyes - either underproduction of tears or over evaporation of tears. Over evaporation of tears is know as blepharitis. This is inflammation of the edge of the eyelids where there is an increase in oil thickness in the eyes.

This, in turn, causes the oil supply to the tears to not flow properly. Treatment can be the use of a hot washcloth on the eye to keep it moist. Scrubbing the eye with an item such as baby shampoo can also help. In cases of underproduction of tears, our eye doctors would recommend lubricating eye drops or artificial tears that will help alleviate the dryness to the eyes. Prescription eye drops will even increase tear production in the eyes.

It should be noted that contact lens wearers should consult with their eye doctor before using these drops and wearing their contact lenses. In some cases, our eye doctors would insert punctal plugs. These are tiny devices that are inserted in the drainage ducts of the eyes so the tears don't evaporate quickly and rather stay in the eye, keeping it moist.

BlephEx Treatment

BlephEx™, a new treatment for blepharitis, is an in-practice procedure performed directly by your optometrist. Clinicians can now treat blepharitis instead of simply relying on the patient’s ability to perform semi-effective home lid scrubs. With BlephEx™ the clinician thoroughly and precisely eliminates the scurf and bacterial debris, the main causes of problematic lid disease.

Common symptoms:

  • Dry eyes
  • Itching or scratchy eyes
  • Tearing
  • Foreign body sensation
  • Crusting
  • Redness/inflammation
  • Mattering
  • Eye rubbing

Our Doctors Answer Your Dry Eyes Questions


Often times this is true, but some folks, like contact lens wearers, can be dry any time in the year.

When should a person come in to see their optometrist for Dry Eye symptoms and when is it enough to take care of this problem yourself?

Non contact lens wearers should come in when the symptoms are bothersome or affect their daily routines. Contact lens wearers should come in sooner to avoid possible infections or for a brand refit if necessary.


A dry eye evaluation will include an assessment of the amount of tear available, the amount of evaporation that occurs within a specific timed test and an evaluation of the lid margins with a microscope to check for lid diseases like meibomitis, demodex or blepharitis.


Yes, excessive tearing can happen with dry eyes or a blockage of the drainage system. When you have dry eyes, it causes irritation, esp. in wind or cold weather. This can cause the eye to increase the amount of tear or liquid. Excessive tearing may also be due to a blockage of the nasal canal.


Depending on the cause of the dry eye, treatment can be done by increasing the amount of tear available, decreasing the amount of evaporation, an occlusion of the drainage system to prevent loss of tear or all three.

Are some people more prone to having Dry Eyes than others?

Women are 8x times more prevalent due to hormone imbalance. Certain eye or systemic diseases can result in dryness and some medications like anti-anxiety and anti-depressants can induce dryness.


Blink often, take more computer breaks, stay hydrated, decrease caffeine, wear sunglasses in windy conditions.

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