Dry eye occurs when there is a tear film imbalance on the surface of your eyes. This can be caused by decreased tear production or by blockages in the meibomian gland within the eye lids. Tears are made up of 3 components: an oily layer, a watery layer, and a mucus layer. When the meibomian gland is blocked, the glands do not consistently produce the oil necessary for a stable tear film. This is referred to as meibomian gland disorder or MGD, which is present in 86% of dry eye patients. [1] Individuals over 40 have a greater risk of developing MGD. [2]
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be exhibiting signs of dry eye syndrome:
Over time, your eyes begin to produce fewer tears, especially for women going through menopause. Additionally, dry eye can be caused by:
There are a number of treatments available for dry eye, including artificial tears, gland expression procedures, supplements, hot compresses, as well as incorporating eye healthy foods into your diet. Treatments such as artificial tears help to ease symptoms, while gland expression treatment with Lipiflow or TearCare treats the most common root cause of dry eye, meibomian gland oil production.
LipiFlow® is a 12-minute in-office treatment designed to remove blockages from the Meibomian glands, allowing them to properly function and produce the oils that make up the protective lipid layer of the tear film.
LipiFlow® activators are single-use sterile devices that safely and comfortably deliver a combination of heat to the inner lids and simultaneous therapeutic motion to the outer lids, to remove blockages from the Meibomian glands. The Activators are contoured to avoid contact with the cornea, protecting the delicate structures of the eye. Maximum results are usually experienced 6-8 weeks after treatment.
TearCare® is a 15 minute in-office procedure for the treatment of meibomian gland disorder. During the treatment, sterile single use flexible eyelid devices gently adhere to the contours of patient eyelids, and apply low heat. By working in conjunction with the blinking eye, proprietary SmartLid™ technology facilitates natural meibum expression when meibum is in its melted phase. The TearCare® procedure is typically repeated in biannual or annual intervals. After TearCare®, we may prescribe a corticosteroid such as Inveltys or Lotemax SM for use twice per day.
BlephEx ™ is a 6-8 minute in-office procedure for the treatment of blepharitis, a common contributor to dry eye symptoms. Over 30% of all patients suffer from some type of blepharitis symptoms [3] , including:
During the procedure, a numbing drop is placed in each eye for increased comfort, then the handheld BlephEx ™ device is used to precisely and carefully, spin a medical grade micro-sponge along the edge of your eyelids and lashes, removing scurf and debris and exfoliating your eyelids. Since home treatments are not completely effective on their own, the BlephEx ™ procedure is typically repeated at 4-6 month intervals.
We offer the following at-home treatment options for dry eye related symptoms are available for purchase in our optical shops: