Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease has major impacts on your comfort, vision and quality of life. You may find your eyes get tired faster, you have difficulty reading or your vision is intermittently blurry and foggy. Not to mention the discomfort of burning, scratchy and teary eyes. Dry eye not only impacts the way you feel and see but can also change how your eyes look leading to red, glassy, and tired appearing eyes. From simple self-care to innovative prescriptions and advanced in-office therapies there are many treatments available for dry eye that can help you to see clearly and comfortably throughout the day.

WHAT IS DRY EYE DISEASE?

Dry eye is a multi-factorial disease of the tears and the front surface of the eye. A person with dry eye either does not produce enough tears or their tears are poor quality. The tear film moisturizes and nourishes the eye, reduces risk for eye infections, washes away foreign matter, and keeps the eye’s surface smooth and clear for best vision. Dry eye is accompanied by increased tear film osmolarity (concentration of salts). When left untreated tear film instability and inflammation can lead to damage and scarring of the eye’s surface. Conditions which play a major role in the development of dry eye disease include:

• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
  A common and chronic condition that changes the quality and quantity of secretions from oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian glands). These glands have tiny openings at the base of the eye lashes that release oils (meibum) into the tears with every blink. This oil layer acts as a protective barrier and helps to hold moisture on the eye’s surface. When the oils become thickened and obstruct the glands it results in decreased lubrication and a poor-quality tear film. Without a robust tear film, tears evaporate too quickly leading to symptoms and increasing risk for damage to the eye’s surface.

• Blepharitis
  Blepharitis is a build up of debris along the base of the eyelashes and eyelids which causes inflammation and can result in infected and clogged meibomian glands (styes). Blepharitis is associated with the over-proliferation of normal eye lid microorganisms such as demodex mites and/or bacteria. The eyelid and lash build up associated with blepharitis causes red, itchy, scaley and irritated eyelids and decreases tear film quality.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR DRY EYE DISEASE?

Common contributing factors to dry eye include frequent screen use, advancing age, allergies, poor diet, environmental heating/cooling systems, hormonal changes, make-up and facial products, contact lenses, lack of sleep and previous refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK). A host of medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, autoimmune disorders, acne rosacea and many others along with certain medications can contribute to dry eye.

HOW IS DRY EYE DISEASE TREATED?

Treatment for dry eye is individualized based on symptoms, life style and clinical findings - management is not one size fits all. Dry eye disease is a chronic condition and requires ongoing management. Treatment may include environmental modifications, over the counter eye drops, prescription eye drops, lid hygiene, life style changes and nutritional supplementation. Additionally, in office therapies that improve gland function, reduce blepharitis build up, minimize inflammation and restore tear quality are a key part of any dry eye treatment plan. The Eye Care Center offers many advanced in-office treatments:

• Intense Pulse Light Therapy with iLIGHT PRO
  A groundbreaking treatment for dry eye and styes the iLIGHT Pro uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation around the eyes restoring meibomian gland function. IPL is followed with an expression of the meibomian glands to remove blockage and improve the glands’ ability to lubricate the eyes. The iLIGHT Pro IPL treatment gets to the root cause of dry eye disease, unlike other treatments which aim to temporarily reduce symptoms.

• Zocular Eyelid System Treatment (ZEST)
  Zest is an in-office lid cleaning system using an okra-based cleanser that effectively removes dirt and debris, relieves inflammation and reduces eye lid irritation. It also helps to treat demodex mites.

• Thermal Meibomian Gland Expression
  After gentle heat is applied to the eyelids using a Wizard Heated Eye Mask in-office, a specially designed tool is used to express and clear out old, ineffective oils from the meibomian glands. This procedure helps to reset the meibomian glands and is can be coupled with IPL.

• Amniotic Membrane
  Amniotic membranes are a powerful treatment for dry eye that is chronic or does not respond to other treatment options. An amniotic membrane is a thin layer of tissue containing anti-inflammatory and growth factors that promote healing of the cornea. This tissue is placed on the front surface of the eye with a special contact lens to hold it in place. Amniotic membranes are commonly left on for 2-4 days. During this time the membrane is absorbed and corneal health improves.

• Punctal Plugs
  Punctal plugs are small devices that are inserted into the tear ducts to block tear drainage and keep moisture on the eye. Punctal plugs are made of different materials and can be temporary or long-term.

WHAT CAN I DO TO MINIMIZE MY RISK FOR DRY EYE DISEASE?

Many environmental factors can worsen dry eye, below are some tips to help:

• Blink fully and frequently when reading or using a screen. Blink rates drop from 14-17 times per minute to 5 times per minute with screen use. Blinking is vital for maintaining a healthy and moisture rich tear film.

• Make sure there is adequate humidity at work, at home and overnight during sleep.

• Wear sunglasses outside to reduce sun and wind exposure. Wrap around glasses are best.

• Avoid fans, heaters or AC units which blow air toward the face during the day and at night while sleeping.

• Increase omega-3 fatty acids in your diet or through high quality supplementation.

• Drink 8-10 glasses of water each day to avoid dehydration.

WHAT CAN I DO IF MY EYES ARE DRY?

If you are experiencing irritation, discomfort, redness, tearing or fluctuating vision please see one of our doctors for an in-depth evaluation and treatment plan tailored to your needs. ​​​​​​​

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