Eye Care Specialty

Dry Eye Treatment

Chronic dry eye is more than discomfort — it can permanently damage your cornea. We diagnose the root cause and build a personalized treatment plan that actually works.

Schedule a Dry Eye EvaluationCall 512.528.1144

Why Do Your Eyes Feel Dry?

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic condition where your eyes don't produce enough tears, or produce tears that evaporate too quickly. It affects over 16 million Americans and is the most common reason for eye doctor visits.

Most patients have tried over-the-counter drops with little lasting relief — because artificial tears treat the symptom, not the cause. At Hill Country Eye Center, we identify exactly why your tear film is failing and treat that specific dysfunction.

Get a Root Cause Evaluation

Common Symptoms

Burning or stinging
Gritty / sandy sensation
Redness or irritation
Watery eyes (reflex tearing)
Blurry vision that clears with blinking
Light sensitivity
Discomfort with contact lenses
Eye fatigue with screen use

Two Types of Dry Eye Disease

Treatment only works when it targets the correct mechanism. That's why we test both types at every dry eye evaluation.

Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye

The lacrimal glands don't produce enough aqueous (watery) component of the tear film. Common in Sjögren's syndrome, post-LASIK patients, and with certain medications.

Treated with: Restasis / Xiidra · punctal plugs · scleral lenses

Evaporative Dry Eye (MGD)

The meibomian glands in your eyelids are blocked and can't release the lipid (oil) layer that prevents tear evaporation. Accounts for 86% of all dry eye cases. Often worsened by screen use.

Treated with: LipiFlow · warm compresses · omega-3s · azithromycin

Personalized Solutions for Lasting Relief

Prescription Eye Drops

Anti-inflammatory drops like Restasis and Xiidra treat the underlying inflammation that drives aqueous deficiency. Results build over 3–6 months with consistent use.

Punctal Plugs

Tiny silicone or collagen plugs inserted into the tear drainage ducts to reduce tear outflow — keeping more of your natural tears on the eye surface longer.

LipiFlow® / MiBoFlo Thermoflo

In-office thermal pulsation therapy that heats and massages the meibomian glands to unclog blocked oil glands — providing relief that lasts up to 12 months for MGD patients.

Omega-3 Supplementation

High-potency pharmaceutical-grade omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) reduce meibomian gland inflammation and improve the quality and composition of the oil layer in your tears.

Scleral Contact Lenses

Large-diameter gas-permeable lenses that vault over the cornea and maintain a reservoir of saline fluid against the ocular surface — ideal for severe or refractory dry eye.

Advanced Diagnostics

LipiView meibomian gland imaging, InflammaDry MMP-9 testing, and tear osmolarity measurement give us a complete picture of your dry eye before we begin treatment.

Stop Managing Symptoms. Treat the Cause.

Our dry eye evaluation takes about 45 minutes and gives you a clear diagnosis and customized treatment roadmap. Most visits are covered by insurance.

Schedule an EvaluationCall 512.528.1144