Opening November 2, 2026 at 13400 E 15 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights. Call (586) 883-7718 to plan a visit.

Opening November 2. Call (586) 883-7718

Call (586) 883-7718

Dry eye evaluation in Sterling Heights

A dry eye evaluation finds out why your eyes feel gritty, burning, tired or watery, so treatment fits the cause instead of guessing. Dr. Yousif Ghaleb, O.D., reviews your symptoms, habits and medications, examines your eyelids and tear film, and builds a plan of drops, home care and prescription treatment if needed. Lens Society does not offer in-office dry eye device treatments; we refer when those are needed.

A woman putting in eye drops

Who it is for

  • People whose eyes burn, sting, feel gritty, or tire by the end of the day
  • Screen-heavy workers whose vision blurs or eyes ache during long stretches at a computer
  • Contact lens wearers whose lenses feel dry or uncomfortable before the day is over
  • Anyone whose eyes water a lot for no clear reason, or who uses artificial tears often without relief

What to expect

  1. Symptoms and history

    A short questionnaire about how your eyes feel, then questions about screens, contact lenses, your environment, health conditions and medications that can affect tears.

  2. Eyelids and blink

    The doctor looks at how completely and how often you blink, and examines the eyelid margins and the oil glands along them, which keep tears from evaporating.

  3. Tear film and eye surface

    Under magnification, the doctor checks how quickly your tears break up and may use a harmless dye to show dry spots on the eye surface. Other tests may be added depending on what is found.

  4. Your plan

    You get a plan matched to the causes found, which may include specific types of artificial tears, eyelid care, changes to screen habits or contact lenses, and prescription drops. A follow-up visit checks how well it is working.

How to prepare

  • Bring a list of all medications and supplements, including allergy, sleep and blood pressure medicines
  • Bring the eye drops you use now, or a photo of the labels
  • If you wear contacts, ask when you book whether to wear them to the visit or leave them out
  • Avoid eye makeup on the day of the visit if you can, so the doctor can see the eyelid margins clearly
  • Note when symptoms are worst, such as at a computer, outdoors in wind, or first thing in the morning

How dry eye is evaluated

Dry eye is not one condition. Tears have an oily layer, a watery layer and a mucus layer, and a problem with any of them, or with the eyelids that spread and protect them, can cause the same burning, gritty or tired feeling. The most recent international dry eye report, TFOS DEWS III (2025), describes dry eye as a condition with many possible causes and recommends a structured approach: start with a short symptom questionnaire, then look at how stable the tear film is and whether the eye surface shows dry spots, and then work out which drivers are at play for that person. That is how the evaluation here works. The goal is to find your specific causes so the plan targets them, rather than handing everyone the same bottle of drops.

Common causes

  • Screens and blink rate. People blink about 15 times a minute normally, but often only 5 to 7 times a minute while looking at a screen, and many blinks are incomplete. Tears evaporate between blinks.
  • Eyelids and oil glands. Small glands along the eyelid margins (meibomian glands) release oil that slows evaporation. When they clog or the lids are inflamed, tears evaporate too quickly. This is one of the most common contributors.
  • Contact lenses. Long-term lens wear, overwearing lenses, and some lens materials can make dryness worse.
  • Medications. Antihistamines, decongestants, some blood pressure medicines, antidepressants and sleep aids can reduce tears. Do not stop a prescribed medication without talking to the doctor who prescribed it.
  • Health and age. Dry eye becomes more common with age and after menopause, and with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s, thyroid disease, lupus and diabetes. Past eye surgery such as LASIK can also play a part.
  • Environment. Dry indoor heat in Michigan winters, wind, air vents blowing on your face, and smoke all speed up evaporation.

Home care that helps many people

These steps are broadly accepted, but your plan should come from your own evaluation:

  • Blink breaks. Every 20 minutes at a screen, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink fully a few times. Position the screen slightly below eye level and about an arm’s length away.
  • The right artificial tears. Preservative-free drops are gentler for frequent use. Thicker gels and ointments last longer and suit bedtime. Avoid redness-relief drops for daily dryness.
  • Warm compresses, if the doctor recommends them. They can loosen clogged eyelid oil glands, but they are not right for everyone, and the doctor will explain how to use them safely.
  • Your surroundings. A humidifier, redirecting air vents, and wraparound glasses outdoors on windy days can all reduce evaporation.

When home care is not enough, the doctor may prescribe medicated drops or other treatment that Michigan optometrists can provide.

What we do not offer

Lens Society does not offer in-office dry eye device treatments, such as intense pulsed light (IPL), thermal pulsation, or similar procedures. Many people improve with the evaluation, home care and prescription treatment described above. If your dry eye does not respond, or the doctor thinks a device treatment would help, we will refer you to a practice that offers it and share what we found.

Good to know

  • Lens Society does not offer in-office dry eye device treatments, such as intense pulsed light or thermal pulsation. If your dry eye needs one, the doctor will refer you.
  • Dry eye is often a long-term condition. Treatment aims to control symptoms and protect the eye surface; it usually takes a few weeks to judge how well a plan is working.
  • A very red, painful eye, or pain with vision changes, is not routine dry eye. Seek a same-day visit or emergency care.

Insurance and cost

A visit to evaluate and treat dry eye is a medical visit, so it is usually billed to medical insurance rather than a vision plan, and your medical deductible or copay may apply. Over-the-counter drops are usually paid for yourself. Our insurance page lists plans as participation is confirmed.

How insurance works at Lens Society

Questions

Why do my eyes water if they are dry?

When the eye surface gets dry and irritated, it can trigger a flood of reflex tears. Those tears are mostly water and drain away quickly, so they do not fix the dryness underneath.

Do you offer IPL, LipiFlow or other in-office dry eye treatments?

No. Lens Society does not offer in-office dry eye device treatments. The doctor evaluates the cause, treats it with drops, eyelid care and prescription medication where appropriate, and refers you to a practice that offers device treatment if you need it.

Which artificial tears should I use?

It depends on your eyes. Preservative-free drops are usually better if you use drops more than a few times a day. Gel drops last longer but blur vision briefly, so many people use them at night. Drops labeled "get the red out" are not artificial tears and are not meant for daily dry eye use. The doctor will recommend a type for you.

Do screens cause dry eye?

Screens do not damage your eyes, but people blink much less while looking at them, which lets the tear film evaporate. Blink breaks and the 20-20-20 habit (every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds) help many people.

Should I use warm compresses?

Warm compresses can help when the oil glands in the eyelids are clogged, but they are not right for every eye. Use them if the doctor recommends them, and ask how long and how warm.

Can contact lenses make dry eye worse?

Yes, they can. Lenses sit in the tear film and can make dryness more noticeable. A different lens material, a daily disposable lens, a different solution or shorter wearing time can help. See our page on contact lens exams.

Sources

Last updated October 20, 2026. Clinically reviewed by Dr. Yousif Ghaleb, O.D. (approval relayed by Hassen) on October 22, 2026.