Dry Eye Center of Maryland Marks 50 Years as the Nation’s First Practice Dedicated to Dry Eye Care

50 Years of Specialized Dry Eye Treatment: A Baltimore Practice That Changed Eye Care

Baltimore, MD — Dry eye disease affects millions of Americans, yet many patients spend years cycling through eye drops, procedures, and brief appointments without lasting relief. For 50 years, the Dry Eye Center of Maryland has taken a different approach, one built entirely around understanding and treating dry eye as a complex, individualized condition.

Founded in 1975, the Dry Eye Center of Maryland is recognized as the nation’s first practice dedicated exclusively to dry eye disease and ocular surface disorders. Long before “dry eye specialist” became a common label, the practice focused solely on patients whose symptoms were persistent, misunderstood, or unsuccessfully treated elsewhere.

Today, many patients who arrive at the Baltimore-based center report having seen multiple eye doctors - often with little improvement.

“Most of our patients are not new to dry eye,” said Dr. Benjamin Azman, director of the practice. “They’ve tried drops, procedures, and different treatment plans. What was missing was the time, testing, and individualized care needed to understand why their eyes weren’t improving.”

Instead of short visits or one-size-fits-all solutions, the Dry Eye Center of Maryland is built around extended consultations and advanced diagnostics. Each evaluation examines tear film stability, inflammation, eyelid and meibomian gland health, and contributing conditions such as blepharitis and ocular rosacea.

Based on these findings, patients may receive a customized combination of FDA-cleared treatments, including Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), radiofrequency (RF) therapy to support meibomian gland function, BlephEx® eyelid treatment, and other medical-grade therapies. The focus is long-term improvement, not temporary symptom relief.

Patients often describe the experience as transformative.

“I presented with a severe and completely new case of dry eye,” said patient Charles Dillon. “Before seeing Dr. Azman, my symptoms were miserable. After my first visit, everything changed. The evaluation was thorough, the plan made sense, and the improvement was dramatic.”

Another patient, Kalie Jakovics, described finally feeling heard after years of searching for answers. “I left with tears of joy,” she shared. “For the first time, I felt understood and confident that there was a real solution.”

That emphasis on listening has helped make the practice a regional destination. Patients routinely travel from across Maryland and Northern Virginia, and beyond, seeking care for complex, long-standing dry eye conditions that have not responded to treatment elsewhere.

“Dry eye is not just an inconvenience,” Dr. Azman explained. “It affects vision, comfort, productivity, and quality of life. When patients are rushed or dismissed, treatment fails. When we take the time to fully understand the condition, real progress becomes possible.”

As the Dry Eye Center of Maryland marks its 50th year, the practice continues to lead through experience, outcomes, and patient-centered care, staying true to the same philosophy that guided it from the beginning: dry eye requires expertise, advanced technology, and time with the patient.


About the Dry Eye Center of Maryland
Founded in 1975, the Dry Eye Center of Maryland is the nation’s first practice dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease and ocular surface disorders. The practice provides comprehensive, individualized care using advanced diagnostics and FDA-cleared technologies. Patients travel from throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia seeking lasting relief from chronic dry eye symptoms.

Contact Information
Dry Eye Center of MarylandWebsite: https://dryeyecenterofmd.comPhone: 410.291.1718Location: Baltimore, Maryland