Dry Eye Therapy

What Is Dry Eye & What Are the Symptoms?

Dry eye is common, and we can help treat your symptoms. Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, your tears are low-quality, or your tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to discomfort, irritation, and vision disturbances.

Symptoms can include:

Redness
Grittiness
A burning sensation
Excessive eye watering
Sensitivity to light
Blurry vision

No matter the cause of your dry eyes or symptoms, our team will take the time to understand how this condition affects you. By understanding your lifestyle, we can find the right approach for your unique needs. Schedule your eye exam today.

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What Can Make Dry Eye Worse?

Several factors can aggravate dry eye and make symptoms more persistent, including:

Prolonged screen time
Air conditioning
Dry or windy environments
Wearing contact lenses
Aging and hormonal changes
Certain medications
Underlying health conditions like autoimmune diseases

Causes of Dry Eye

Your tears are made of 3 layers: a watery layer, an oily layer, and a mucus layer. If there are imbalances in the layers or the glands in your eyes aren’t working correctly, you may experience dry eye symptoms.

To better understand why these imbalances occur, it’s important to explore the different types of dry eye conditions that can result from issues with the tear film and its production.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

The meibomian glands (the glands near your eyelids) produce oils that keep tears from evaporating too quickly. If these glands become blocked or inflamed, tears can evaporate faster, leading to dryness and irritation.

Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye

Aqueous deficient dry eye occurs when the lacrimal glands in the upper outside corners of your eyes don’t produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes properly. It is often linked to autoimmune conditions, like Sjögren’s syndrome, aging, and certain medications. Without adequate tear production, the eyes become dry, irritated, and prone to inflammation.

Evaporative Dry Eye

Evaporative dry eye occurs when tears evaporate too quickly due to an imbalance in the tear film. This is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, environmental factors like wind or air conditioning, and excessive screen time that reduces blinking.

Diagnosing Dry Eye

Accurately diagnosing dry eye requires a thorough evaluation to pinpoint the underlying cause. We use a combination of diagnostic techniques to assess your tear production, gland function, and overall eye health.

By using a variety of tests, we can develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Our goal is to understand not just the symptoms but the root cause of your discomfort so that we can provide more than just temporary relief.

Dyes & Staining

We’ll apply special dyes to the eye’s surface to highlight any areas of dryness, irritation, and tear film instability. The staining patterns provide valuable insights into the severity and location of dry eye, allowing us to customize treatment accordingly.

Meibography

Meibography is an imaging technique that captures detailed images of the meibomian glands (the glands near your eyelids), which are responsible for producing the oil layer of tears. By assessing the structure and function of these glands, we can determine whether meibomian gland dysfunction is contributing to your dry eye symptoms.

TBUT

Tear break-up time (TBUT) measures how quickly your tears evaporate from your eye’s surface. A dye is used to visualize the tear film, and the time it takes for dry spots to appear is recorded. A shortened TBUT indicates tear film instability, which can signal evaporative dry eye.

This test helps determine whether inadequate tear quality is a factor in your discomfort.

Schirmer’s Test

Schirmer’s test measures tear production by placing a small strip of paper inside the lower eyelid. After a few minutes, the amount of moisture absorbed by the strip is recorded. This test helps diagnose aqueous deficient dry eye by determining whether the eyes are producing enough tears to keep the eye’s surface properly hydrated.

Our Treatments for Dry Eye

Our priority is your comfort and long-term eye health. We take the time to understand your symptoms, lifestyle, and overall eye health before recommending treatment.

Whether your dry eye stems from gland dysfunction, environmental factors, or other causes, we’ll tailor our approach to address the root issue. From noninvasive, in-office therapies to at-home care, our goal is to improve comfort, restore tear stability, and promote overall eye health.

Eyelid Debridement

Eyelid debridement is a procedure that removes debris buildup along the eyelids. This helps unclog meibomian glands and improve oil production, reducing tear evaporation. Regular eyelid hygiene can play a crucial role in managing dry eye symptoms over time.

Eye Masks

Warm eye masks can help soften hardened oil in the meibomian glands, making it easier for natural oils to flow and stabilize the tear film. These masks can be used at home as part of a daily routine to help relieve discomfort and improve tear quality.

Eyelid Sprays

Hypochlorous acid eyelid sprays reduce bacteria and inflammation along the eyelids, helping to manage dry eye symptoms. These sprays provide a gentle, convenient way to support eyelid health and maintain a balanced tear film.

LipiFlow

LipiFlow uses heat and gentle pressure to unclog meibomian glands, restoring their natural function. This noninvasive, in-office treatment is a powerful way to manage evaporative dry eye caused by gland dysfunction.

Medicated Eye Drops

Prescription eye drops help reduce inflammation and promote natural tear production. These medications can be an important part of a comprehensive dry eye treatment plan.

Meibomian Gland Expression

Meibomian gland expression is a procedure that manually clears blockages in the glands, allowing natural oils to flow freely. This helps stabilize the tear film and relieve symptoms of evaporative dry eye.

Omega-3 Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids can support tear production and reduce inflammation. Adding these supplements to your diet can help improve overall eye comfort and support long-term eye health.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are tiny devices inserted into the tear ducts to slow tear drainage, keeping the eyes hydrated for longer. This treatment is beneficial for patients with aqueous deficient dry eye.

OptiLIGHT by Lumenis

OptiLIGHT by Lumenis is a light-based, noninvasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. The first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.

The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

OptiLIGHT uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease, improve tear break-up time, and increase meibomian gland functionality.

Learn More About OptiLIGHT

Amniotic Membranes

Amniotic membrane therapy is an innovative treatment that uses tissue from the amniotic membrane to help heal and regenerate damaged eye tissue, providing long-lasting relief for those suffering from chronic dry eye.

The natural healing properties of amniotic membranes can reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, and restore moisture to your eyes.

Scleral Contact Lenses for Dry Eye

If you have trouble wearing contact lenses because of dry eye, scleral lenses can be the solution you’ve been looking for. These specially designed lenses create a protective layer over your cornea, trapping moisture and providing relief from irritation and discomfort caused by dry eye.

Unlike traditional contact lenses, scleral lenses are larger and vault over the cornea, providing hydration and stability for the eyes throughout the day.

Whether you have moderate to severe dry eye or irregular corneal conditions, scleral lenses can significantly improve comfort and visual clarity.

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Finding Relief from Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eyes don’t have to disrupt your daily life. We screen both adults and children for dry eye to help identify the condition early. Schedule an appointment with us to explore personalized solutions and take the first step toward lasting comfort.

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