Dry Eye Treatment
Dry eye is a common condition when you don’t create enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated. Your eyes may feel dry, scratchy and tired, and your vision may be affected.
What is Dry Eye?
If you suspect that you have dry eye, see your eye doctor.
Dry eye syndrome is when the quantity or quality of tears is insufficient to moisten, cleanse, and protect the eyes. When you blink, tears protect the surface of the eye, washing away dust and microorganisms. When the protective coating formed by tears dries up, the eyes may feel gritty or burn and can be more sensitive to light. In extreme cases, vision can be blurred. Proper care is essential to both increase your comfort and protect your eyes. Your eye care provider can perform a series of tests to determine if you have dry eye.
First Steps for Relief of Dry Eye
The most common form of dry eye disease is known as “evaporative dry eye,” which is typically the result of having increased tear evaporation. There are several simple ways to find relief:
Use a compress that has been designed to hold heat and is made of material that is gentle on the eyes. Warm it in a microwave for 20-30 seconds and apply it to your closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes before you go to bed and when you wake up. We recommend Bruder® compresses for their quality and ease of use and they are available at the front desk of our offices.
Lubricating eye drops add elements similar to your natural tears, improving the tear film’s effectiveness in protecting your eyes. There are many brands of over-the-counter lubricating drops. For more severe dry eyes, lubricating ointments or gels may be necessary. Thicker than drops, lubricating ointments or gels stay in your eyes longer but can temporarily blur your vision, so they’re best used before bedtime.
Our eyes need water to create tears and remain lubricated. When your body is dehydrated, your eyes can also become dry and uncomfortable. If you have dry eyes, be sure to drink at least the recommended 8-10 glasses of water daily.
Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, which means they promote water loss by making you urinate more frequently. If you have dry eye, you want to retain as much water in your body as possible.
Fish oil is known for having many positive effects on the human body, and this includes your eyes. We recommend taking at least 1,000 mg daily with food in a triglyceride form, with at least 60% of the fish oil being EPA/DHA (the two Omega-3 fats that contribute to healthy eye function). EyePromise® EZ Tears® meets these criteria.
Your blink rate is dramatically reduced when you stare at a digital device’s screen. Why does this matter? Blinking is an important way to keep your eyes hydrated. With every blink, your eye’s tear film is replenished and spread. The less you blink, the fewer tears protect your eyes. A good rule of thumb is to take 20-second breaks from your digital device every 20 minutes to consciously blink and rewet your eyes.
OptiLIGHT® IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation
LipiFlow is a gentle, safe and very effective way to relieve the most common cause of dry eye: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Your meibomian glands are the tiny glands at the edges of your eyelids, responsible for secreting the fluid that lubricates your eyes. When they clog, the fluid flow is reduced, or stops completely, and your eyes dry out.
LipiFlow applies moist, pulsating heat to your eyelids, and gently massages them to break up and flush away the material clogging your meibomian glands. Your Focused Eye Care doctors have received in-depth training on the FDA-approved LipiFlow and use it regularly to combat dry eye. In fact, other eye doctors refer patients to us for LipiFlow treatments.
