Vision Therapy in Jefferson City

Spotting the Signs of Dry Eye

(573) 635-1313

Understanding the Symptoms

Dry eye is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and its symptoms can vary in severity. It's crucial to recognize the signs of dry eye early to seek appropriate treatment and improve your eye health and comfort.

man with sore eyes


Common Symptoms to Look Out For

woman with red eyes

Experiencing dry eye symptoms can greatly affect your daily life and overall health. These symptoms can disrupt your work, hobbies, and even your ability to carry out everyday tasks comfortably.

The constant discomfort and distraction caused by these symptoms can lower your productivity and overall quality of life. 

Here are common signs that may indicate dry eye syndrome:

  • Dryness:
    A persistent sensation of dryness, grittiness, or eye irritation.
  • Itching:
    Frequent itching or a burning sensation in and around the eyes.
  • Redness:
    Bloodshot or red eyes, often accompanied by discomfort.·
  • Excessive Tearing:
    Paradoxically, your eyes may produce more tears as a response to dryness, leading to watery eyes.
  • Blurry Vision:
    Vision may become temporarily blurred, particularly when reading or using digital screens.
  • Light Sensitivity:
    Increased sensitivity to light, known as photophobia.
  • Foreign Body Sensation:
    Feeling as though something is in your eye.
  • Eye Fatigue:
    Increased eye fatigue, especially during prolonged periods of reading, screen time, or other visually demanding tasks.

Ignoring dry eye symptoms can lead to worsening discomfort and potential complications. Chronic dry eye can damage the eye's surface and increase the risk of eye infections, scarring, and vision loss. Seeking professional guidance if you're experiencing any of these symptoms is crucial.


Dry Eye Diagnosis and Expert Care

When you choose Eyes On Missouri - Jefferson City for your dry eye care, you benefit from our expertise in comprehensive diagnosis. We understand that your unique health history and lifestyle can affect your dry eye differently, which is why we practice personalized care tailored to you. Our approach includes:

  • In-Depth Eye Exams

    During a comprehensive eye exam, we evaluate your eyelids, eye surface, and your complete health history and lifestyle to identify potential underlying causes of dry eyes.

  • Tear Assessment

    We conduct a detailed assessment of your tears, measuring their volume and quality. This assessment helps us identify any deficiencies in tear quantity or quality, crucial factors in dry eye diagnosis.

  • Tear Breakup Time

    Using advanced techniques like tear breakup time measurement, we identify specific areas of your eyes where tears may evaporate more rapidly. This information aids in tailoring your treatment plan.

  • Specialized Dry Eye Test: Schirmer Test

    This test involves placing blotting test paper strips on the lower eyelids to measure tear production over a specific time. It helps determine the volume of tears your eyes produce.

Patient Reviews
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888 Reviews
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- Apr. 16, 2025
It's really hard to describe how pleasant AND educational a visit to Dr Zahn's office is. His very e... mpathic and thoughtful communication is truly unique among all medical specialists; added bonus? His employees emulate his approach to patient care. You will relish having become connected with Eyes On Missouri.
- Apr. 07, 2025
Super friendly staff, amazing selection of frames, and Dr. Zahn is just terrific.
- Mar. 28, 2025
Dr. Zahn is so awesome! Takes time to really listen to any concerns and is goofy and fun while in th... e exam room!
- Mar. 13, 2025
Dr. Zahn & his team have taken care of me for the past 4 years and I am so grateful to them. They ar... e always so helpful and cheerful. It's fun going to see them and they always make me feel so welcome. They have a really good selection of eyeglass frames from luxury brands as well.
- Mar. 08, 2025
Everyone at Eyes on Missouri is knowledgable, helpful, friendly, and professional. Dr. Zahn is simp... ly amazing! I have complex vision issues and he was able to help me obtain the best outcome I have had in over 35 years and several opthamologists. In addition, Dr. Zahn is kind, compassionate, and respectful to his patients. I feel very fortunate to have found Eyes on Missouri and Dr. Zahn upon my recent move to central Missouri!
- Mar. 08, 2025
The very best!
- Feb. 17, 2025
The quality of my vision examinations is top notch at Eyes on Missouri. If you’re experiencing any... problems with your eyes, don’t wait, visit Eyes on Missouri now. You won’t regret it.
- Feb. 14, 2025
Very fast eye exam. Doctor was very knowledgeable about diabetes effects on eyes.
- Feb. 12, 2025
I had a great experience with these people. All of them were friendly and knowledgeable. My optometr... ist took the time to explain all my opinions and addresses my concerns. Very nice digs too. 😀
- Feb. 09, 2025
Outstanding people from the receptionist to the doctor.
- Feb. 04, 2025
Very friendly and professional staff. Got me in quickly for an emergency appointment after an injury... . Called at 8am and appointment was at 10am. Clean and spacious building makes you feel comfortable while you’re there and Dr Hillhemp I believe was the name of the lady that checked me out and she was AMAZING. I usually use Dr Zahn but he was out of the office this day. He is also very friendly and very informative. Nowhere else I’d rather go for my eye care.
- Feb. 02, 2025
Everyone is so friendly and helpful!
- Jan. 23, 2025
I always get friendly service at Eyes on Missouri. Highly recommend Dr. Zahn and this location for ... your eye care services!
- Jan. 23, 2025
I like both doctors in this office. Friendly, fast service.
- Dec. 19, 2024
The staff is amazing!!! I stepped on my glasses and broke the frame. The staff was able to find me... a replacement frame extremely quickly. I highly recommend you come here for your eye care needs.
- Dec. 14, 2024
the ONLY place to get glasses!
- Dec. 08, 2024
Stellar customer service! And my favorite (nerdy) part is the purposeful and unobtrusive efforts the... y make to ensure time is managed well *without* making patients feel rushed or unattended. For example, they use an adaptation of a technique called Kanban, where a visual on the wall alerts patients in the waiting area to whether or not the doctors on are on time or not. This may seem minor but it effectively communicates if there will be an extended wait. I also noticed that a staff member who works with patients to choose eyewear came into the exam room at the end of my exam, presumably at a predetermined time to help the entire staff remain on track for the appointments for the day. If a medical team is that dedicated to simple time management strategies, imagine the level of care and dedication they exhibit when it comes to patient care and eye health! As long as I live in the area, I will continue to receive care from Eyes on Missouri and encourage everyone else I know to do the same!
- Dec. 06, 2024
Highly recommend Eyes on Missouri! I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door and the staff help... ed in getting a great frame that fit my face and bridge.
- Dec. 02, 2024
Great experience an quality
- Nov. 22, 2024
Everyone here from in to out was very pleasant, efficient and helpful.

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Dry Eyes in Jefferson City

Our optometry practice in Jefferson City

Photograph of Elizabeth Hedgpath
Hours
  • Monday 7:15 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 7:15 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 7:15 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Anthem
  • Medicaid
  • MetLife

man putting eye drops in eyes

Consult Our Dry Eye Experts

At Eyes On Missouri - Jefferson City, our experienced eye care specialists are ready to help you find relief from dry eye symptoms. We understand these symptoms' impact on your daily life and are committed to improving your eye health and comfort.

Contact us to schedule an appointment and discuss your dry eye symptoms. Let's work together to find the most suitable treatment and enhance your quality of life.

(573) 635-1313