Dry Eye Treatment

Relieving Uncomfortable, Irritated Eyes

Are your eyes feeling gritty, scratchy, or irritated? You might be experiencing dry eye, or ocular surface disease, an uncomfortable but common condition.

Living with dry eye can cause frequent discomfort and distraction from trying to soothe your eyes. You may notice certain tasks or activities that make your eyes feel more uncomfortable, such as reading for long periods or working at a computer screen. Of course, our dry climate doesn’t help.

At Eye On Health, we can evaluate your eyes to determine the cause of your discomfort and recommend treatments based on your symptoms and the severity. Book an appointment and find relief for your eyes today.

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What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a common condition that impacts millions of Americans. It causes discomfort and arises due to problems with your tear film. Dry eye can be the result of eyes that don’t produce enough tears, or that produce poor-quality tears that evaporate rapidly.

The causes of dry eye can vary significantly, so it’s a good idea to get your eyes checked by an optometrist before deciding on treatments.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Symptoms of dry eye include:

Burning or stinging eyes
Gritty or scratchy feeling in the eyes
Feeling like something is in your eye(s)
Red, irritated, or watery eyes
Blurry vision
Light sensitivity
Eye fatigue or heavy eyelids
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Discomfort while wearing contact lenses
Not being able to produce tears while crying
Being unable to read, work on the computer, or do other eye-intensive activities for long periods of time

Causes of Dry Eye

The causes of dry eye vary widely, and can include:

Normal aging
Contact lens wear
Pregnancy
Medications, such as antihistamines or antidepressants
Hormone replacement therapy
Recent laser vision correction surgery, such as LASIK
Medical conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, or Sjögren’s Syndrome
Vitamin deficiencies
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
Blepharitis or Demodex
Ocular rosacea

Our Dry Eye Treatment Process

Our dry eye treatments are recommended after Dr. Balocca thoroughly examines your eyes and tear film. He may use special eye drops to dye your tear film so he can measure how long it covers your entire eye between blinks. A fast evaporation time can indicate poor-quality tears.

Once Dr. Balocca has an understanding of the cause of your discomfort, he’ll recommend a treatment plan tailored to your eyes. Some of these treatments may include amniotic membrane therapy for moderate to severe dry eye, medicated eye drops, meibomian gland expression, or dietary changes and supplements. Learn more by clicking on each title.

For individuals with moderate to severe dry eye, the use of amniotic membrane therapy can support healing and minimize the risk of corneal scarring. It also helps to reduce inflammation, which can improve the function of the tear glands.

The amniotic membrane is derived from the placenta and is donated voluntarily by mothers post-birth. The tissue is thoroughly screened for health and safety before being used to create amniotic membrane bandage contacts.

Prescription eye drops can be used to target the main cause of your symptoms. These eye drops provide enhanced relief compared to over-the-counter drops as they target the cause, not just the symptoms.

For example, certain medicated eye drops target inflammation, while others support increased tear production. Depending on the cause of your dry eye, Dr. Balocca will recommend the right option for you.

In certain cases, the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of your tear film, can become blocked. When this happens, your tears will evaporate rapidly, as the oily layer helps slow tear evaporation.

If meibomian gland dysfunction is the cause of your dry eye symptoms, Dr. Balocca may recommend meibomian gland expression. This is an in-office procedure that involves a gentle massage of the eyelids to express any oil buildup in the glands that is preventing healthy oil production.

Thermal 1-Touch Heat Therapy by OCuSOFT® uses heat and gentle pressure on the eyelids to release buildup and stimulate oil production by the meibomian glands. The device is placed on the eyelids, where it provides targeted heat at a consistent temperature throughout the duration of the in-office treatment.

The Thermal 1-Touch device can be used to treat dry eye stemming from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or blepharitis, as well as styes or chalazia (blocked oil glands).

Warm compresses can be used to help stimulate oil production and soothe dry, tired eyes at home. We recommend a couple of reusable eye mask brands specifically designed to relieve discomfort caused by dry eye and related conditions.

Sometimes, vitamin deficiencies can result in dry eye. Dr. Balocca can recommend specific dietary changes to help support your eye health, or supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, which can help support healthy tear production and reduce your dry eye symptoms.

Support Healthy Tear Production

Whether in-office or take-home treatments are part of your dry eye management plan, there are a few things you can do at home to support healthy tears and enhance your eye comfort.

Try filtering the air in your house with an air cleaner, and make sure to keep the moisture level at home comfortable with a humidifier. Rest your eyes periodically if you’re working on vision-intensive activities such as computer use or reading, and remind yourself to blink more often.

Individuals with mild symptoms may find over-the-counter eye drops, such as artificial tears, to be sufficient in reducing their discomfort. Incorporate foods rich in vitamin A, like carrots, broccoli, and liver, and omega-3s, like fish, walnuts, and vegetable oils, to support healthy eyes and tears. You may also want to wear close-fitting glasses or sunglasses to help slow tear evaporation.

If you have any questions about dry eye or would like to be assessed to relieve your discomfort, book an appointment with us today.

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