Dry Eye Care
Are you experiencing red, itchy, dry eyes? Known as dry eye syndrome, the condition occurs when your eyes either don’t make enough tears to stay wet or the tears produced don’t work properly. Read on to learn more about dry eyes and how our expert term can ensure you receive the best dry eye solution.
What is dry eye syndrome?
Having dry eyes is common, affecting millions of Americans each year. While the condition is not usually serious, it can make day-to-day life uncomfortable. Some common symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:
- redness
- itchiness
- soreness
- gritty sensation as if something is in the eyes
- blurriness
- sensitive to light
- eyes being more watery than usual.
Common causes of dry eye
Dry eyes occur when your oil glands do not release oil from your eyelids properly. It can also mean that either the tear glands above your eyes don’t produce enough tears to keep your eyes wet or your tears dry up too quickly.
Certain people are more at risk for experiencing dry eyes than others. Some of the factors that can increase the likelihood of getting dry eyes include:
- being aged 50 or over
- wearing contact lenses
- spending time in air-conditioned or heated environments
- smoking
- drinking alcohol
- taking certain medications such as blood pressure medicine
- being in dusty, dry, or windy climates
- spending long periods looking at computer screens without breaks
- having a condition like lupus or blepharitis.
Testing for dry eyes
Our dry eye assessments include tear breakup time, fluorescein analysis, LipiScanⓇ, meibomian gland assessment, eyelid integrity, and blepharitis/demodex assessment.
How to treat dry eyes
If you have been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, the following treatments performed strictly at Eye Pieces can help relieve symptoms and prevent future complications:
- Lipiflow – an FDA-approved procedure that warms your oil glands to help improve their function and help prevent permanent damage to your oil glands over time
- Intense pulse light therapy (IPL) – a pain-free, safe, and effective way to treat dry eye related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD
- TempSure – a safe, comfortable way to unclog blocked tear ducts
- Bandage scleral lenses – therapeutic contact lenses manage pain and maintain visual acuity
- Autologous serum – prescribed to patients who suffer from severe dry eyes where Over-the-counter eye drops are not enough
- BioDOptix amniotic membrane – used for ocular tissue repair
- Punctal plugs – tiny devices placed in the eyes’ tear ducts to help drain tears
- Meibomian gland expression – to manually clear blockage in the tear ducts.
At-home treatments
Looking for an at-home solution to dry eyes? The following can also help you manage daily symptoms:
- Artificial tears – to lubricate the eyes and maintain moisture
- Anti-inflammatories – to help reduce inflammation
- High-quality omega 3 supplements – to preserve vision and relieve dry eyes
- Heat masks – to prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly
- Zocular – a cleanser and moisturizer that reduces itchy, scratchy eyes.
Treat your dry eyes today
Take advantage of our subscription plan and enjoy a discounted price when booking 3 or more sessions of our intense pulse light therapy (IPL), TempSure, and Lipiflow services.