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Dry Eye Treatment in Pittsburgh

Offering Lasting Relief For Dry, Itchy & Gritty Eyes

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Tired of your eyes constantly watering?

Want to find a solution for your red, dry, itchy eyes?

Dry eye disease can seriously harm your quality of life. It can cause severe irritation and even infection in severe cases.

Symptoms of dry eye disease include:

  • Red, dry eyes
  • Itchiness in and around the eye
  • A gritty-feeling in the eye
  • Light sensitivity
  • Excessive watering of the eyes

Visit Bittel Vision Care Center - Caste Village for effective and lasting dry eye relief.

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Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

How Dry Eye Disease Develops & How to Treat It

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Dry eye disease is an increasingly common eye condition that can happen either because the eye is not producing enough tears, or because tears are evaporating too quickly, leaving the eyes without enough moisture to function comfortably.

This can happen for several reasons including allergies, side effects from medications, hormonal changes, and illness.

Depending on the cause and exact symptoms of your dry eyes, our Pittsburgh eye doctors will be able to prescribe treatments and medications aimed at increasing the amount of tears your eye produces and/or slowing the evaporation of tears to better hydrate your eyes.


What Are the Main Causes of Dry Eye?

  • Aging

    Dry eye disease tends to affect people over the age of 50. This is because tear production slows as we age. As the lacrimal glands produce fewer tears, dry eye develops.

  • Hormonal changes

    It's not uncommon for some women to experience dry eye symptoms during pregnancy, menopause, or while using birth control pills. That's because hormone imbalances can reduce tear production.

  • Autoimmune disease

    Certain autoimmune diseases, like Sjögren’s syndrome, can cause white blood cells to attack your tear glands, thus reducing tear production. Other diseases like arthritis, lupus, and diabetes can also cause poor or insufficient tear production.

  • Medications

    Certain medications can reduce mucus production (one of the 3 tear components) thus contributing to chronic dry eye.

    They include antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, and beta-blockers.

Note that this is just a handful of causes. There are many other factors that can contribute to dry eye, including pollution and dry air, allergies, poor tear quality, dehydration, contact lens wear, and more.


Dry Eyes Treatment in Pittsburgh

Our optometry practice in Pittsburgh

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Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Aetna
Patient Reviews
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92 Reviews
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- Aug. 27, 2023
My family has been going to Dr. Bittel for years. He does an excellent job and his staff is professi... onal. Strongly recommend.
- Aug. 06, 2023
Friendly staff. No long waits.
- May. 25, 2023
Professional, thorough and friendly.
- May. 25, 2023
Excellent care from Dr. Robert Bittel and his staff.
- May. 03, 2023
I've been going to Drs Bittel for over a decade, and I couldn't imagine going anywhere else! The st... aff is always extremely friendly and professional, and they have a wide selection of eyewear to choose from. Super excited to go pick up my new glasses today!!!
- Apr. 17, 2023
Great people giving great services and products
- Mar. 11, 2023
We always have a positive experience. The staff is friendly and helpful.
- Feb. 27, 2023
Excellent service and very professional doctor, my 3 years old son was so comfortable during his app... ointment. Very recommended!
- Feb. 25, 2023
Dr Bittel was so kind and professional towards my 90 year old father. Thoroughly examined his eyes a... nd spoke kindly to him.
- Feb. 10, 2023
Dr Bittle diagnosed me with wet macula degeneration and made an appointment for me at Retina Vision ... Services for the next day for treatment.He is responsible for preserving my vision in my left eye and I readily recommend him to everyone .j
- Dec. 27, 2022
I've been going here for many years and I have always been treated very nicely.The staff is very pro... fessional and Doctor Bittel is awesome!
- Dec. 17, 2022
Was at Bittel yesterday for a glasses adjustment. The off-putting slant of my glasses was driving m... e nuts. Carol immediately knew what was wrong and adjusted the glasses so they are perfect now. Thanks Carol for your care and professionalism!
- Oct. 01, 2022
My 90 year old Mother is a patient. There was a problem when she went to pick up her new glasses and... they weren't correct. She was very upset, stuff like that tends to extremely overwhelm her now that she is older. Jen was awesome, put her at ease, solved the problem and got them correctly reordered. She was kind and compassionate and cool which meant a lot to my mother. She couldn't say enough about Jen and how nicely she was treated. Thank you!
- Jul. 14, 2022
I have been a patient of Dr. Bittel’s for many years. I highly recommend him because he is so know... ledgeable, professional and caring. My appointment went so smooth as I had a couple issues, he always takes his time and is so thorough. The staff is awesome too!!!
- Feb. 03, 2022
Great service, excellent staff, and doctors that care about their patients.
- Nov. 11, 2021
Nothing but possitve visits at Bittel Vision Care Center! The Doctor's and staff are so friendly and... professional. Love the assistance I receive when choosing eyeglasses! Top notch all the way!
- Nov. 09, 2021
I have major eye issues including Thyroid Eye Disease. The doctors and nurses are amazing. They ar... e patient and caring. They did not rush me through trying on several brands of contacts to find just the right ones. Highly recommend Bittel Optical!
- Sep. 06, 2021
Dr Bob and Dr Matt are always punctual, professional and compassionate.
- Sep. 06, 2021
My family and I have been patients of Dr. Robert P. Bittel for 30+ years, a testament to his great d... iagnostics and friendly staff. This is a local business not a chain. The owners work there and understand patient's needs and requirements. They have always done their best to accommodate my family. Their response to an emergency is fast and reassuring.
- Sep. 01, 2021
I recently had cataract surgery and Dr. Bittel did the pre and post care. He not only recommended... an excellent surgeon his post care was tremendous. He found treatments to enhance my recovery that the surgeon was unaware of. My recovery has been excellent because of his care.

View All 92 Reviews

Dry Eyes FAQs

Can I still wear contact lenses if I have dry eye syndrome?

Yes, some people can still wear contact lenses with dry eye syndrome. However, depending on its severity, you may need to carefully select the adequate contact lens for optimal clarity and comfort.

Oftentimes, because contact lenses sit on the eye, it's difficult for vital oxygen to reach the eye. This can worsen dry eye symptoms, and increase the risk of scratching or otherwise damaging your eye. Make sure to ask your eye doctor which contact lenses are most adapted to your condition.

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome. There are, however, many treatment options that offer lasting dry eye relief.

Can dry eye syndrome cause blindness?

In rare extreme cases, dry eye syndrome can cause corneal ulcers. These ulcers can result in scarring on the eye, making it difficult for the cornea to focus light accurately. If left untreated, corneal ulcers and the associated scarring can result in blindness.

How can I prevent dry eye symptoms?

Below are a few tips that will help prevent dry eye symptoms:

  • Point fans, heaters, and air vents so that they don’t directly blow into your eyes
  • Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
  • Stay properly hydrated
  • Take breaks during long tasks, especially those that require extended visual focus

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Don't suffer in silence

Contact us for lasting dry eye relief!

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