If your eyes feel gritty, burning, watery, or tired by the end of the day, you’re not alone. Chronic dry eye affects millions of people, and for many, it gets worse over time without the right treatment. At WellSight in Murrieta, we see patients from across Southwest Riverside County — Temecula, Menifee, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, and French Valley — who’ve been living with dry eye symptoms for years before finding real relief.
What Causes Chronic Dry Eye?
The most common underlying cause of chronic dry eye is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Your eyelids contain tiny glands that produce the oily layer of your tear film, which keeps tears from evaporating too quickly. When these glands become blocked or function poorly, your tears evaporate too fast, leaving your eyes dry, irritated, and prone to inflammation.
Other contributing factors include:
- Extended screen time and reduced blink rate
- Aging and hormonal changes
- Contact lens wear
- Environmental factors like dry air, wind, or allergens
- Certain medications
Common Symptoms
Chronic dry eye can show up differently from person to person, but the most frequently reported symptoms include burning or stinging, a gritty or sandy sensation, redness, excessive watering (yes, watery eyes can be a symptom of dryness), blurred vision that improves with blinking, and general eye fatigue by the end of the day.
How Forma-I Dry Eye Therapy Works
At WellSight, we treat chronic dry eye with Forma-I, a radiofrequency-based therapy designed specifically to address Meibomian Gland Dysfunction at its source. Forma-I gently warms the eyelid tissue to help unclog and stimulate the meibomian glands, improving their ability to produce the oils your tear film needs. As a bonus, the treatment also rejuvenates the delicate skin around the eyes.
Most patients see improvement in 4–6 sessions, spaced about 1–2 weeks apart, with no downtime and only mild, temporary redness. Because the treatment addresses the root cause rather than just masking symptoms with drops, relief tends to last significantly longer. You can read more about the treatment on our Forma-I dry eye therapy page.
When Should You See a Specialist?
If over-the-counter drops aren’t cutting it anymore, or if your dry eye symptoms are starting to interfere with daily life — reading, driving at night, screen work — it’s worth having an actual evaluation rather than continuing to manage symptoms on your own. A proper assessment can identify whether MGD is the underlying cause and whether a treatment like Forma-I is right for you.
WellSight is a physician-led practice serving Murrieta and the surrounding Southwest Riverside County area. If chronic dry eye has been affecting your daily comfort, we’d be glad to walk you through your options during a consultation.