Dry eye disease , otherwise known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a chronic condition characterized by the lack of moisture and insufficient lubrication in the eye. Individuals who suffer from dry eyes often experience symptoms such as redness, itch, pain, and recurring burning sensations.

Patients are advised to avoid straining their eyes through activities such as reading in poorly lit areas, gazing into the computer screen for long hours at a stretch, and spending a lot of time in arid or extremely dry environments. Such actions further aggravate the condition of your eyes and may also weaken your vision in the long run.

Symptoms

As mentioned earlier, some of the common signs of dry eye disease are pain and redness in your eyes, which in turn causes burning sensations to persist. You will also gradually feel your eyes getting tired more often than usual and will also face difficulty when reading or working on a computer for extended periods of time. Here are a few more symptoms of dry eyes disease:

  • Light sensitivity
  • Mucus buildup within or around the eyes
  • The constant feeling or sensation of having something in your eyes
  • Difficulty in wearing contact lenses
  • Pressure behind the eyes

Causes

There are several reasons why people suffer from dry eyes. The causes range from environmental factors like the lack of moisture in your surroundings or living in a dry and windy environment to lifestyle choices such as wearing your contacts for long hours on a daily basis and smoking. Dry eyes could also be a side effect of medication taken for pre-existing medical conditions that include vitamin D deficiency, thyroid problems, blepharitis, and damage to the tear ducts, amongst many others.

Treatment

It is necessary to get your eyes diagnosed at the earliest point when you start experiencing any of the above symptoms. Consult with an eye specialist at our eye clinic to get the right treatment for your eyes, all of which are listed below with the respective causal conditions.

Over The Counter Drugs And Medication

If you experience mild dry eyes, special eye drops such as artificial tears will be sufficient to treat it. This is especially effective for individuals wearing contact lenses. However, if the condition is more severe, the effect may be temporary and the patient has to move on to other stronger medications that can be taken either orally or as eye drops.

If any existing medication is found to be the root cause of your dry eyes disease, simply discontinuing it will ease the symptoms. However, it is crucial to weigh the effects of quitting your medication with the side effects you are experiencing. Consult with your doctor on the next best step and to find suitable alternatives.

Environmental and Lifestyle changes

If your dry eyes are caused by environmental factors, simply protecting your eyes from getting dry and dehydrated will help. When outside, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from dust and sun exposure while staying indoors, using humidifiers can prove to make a difference along with drinking ample amounts of water every day. Avoid smoking and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke as both can help alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes as well.

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E-Eye Treatment

Meibomian gland dysfunction or MGD is a condition where the tiny glands on your eyes do not secrete sufficient oil or when the oil secreted is of poor quality. The E-Eye treatment uses IRPL or Intense Regulated Pulsed Light designed to specifically treat dry eyes caused by MGD. IRPL works on mild, medium, to severe dry eye conditions.

The IRPL is a gentle, and non-invasive treatment that works by emitting pulses of light directed on the cheeks under the eye to dissolve and release hardened or clogged oils in the gland. The treatment also reduces inflammation, eliminates redness, and facilitates better functioning of the oil glands.

Each session only takes 3-5 minutes. The skin is cleaned from any make-up or other cosmetics before proceeding. For optimum results, our eye care providers recommend three sessions of E-Eye. Treatments are usually done on day 1, 2 weeks , and 6 weeks , and then subsequently as needed. Following the E-Eye treatment, we administer a lid massage to stimulate the production of oil in the Meibomian glands for the best results.

To avoid being affected with the dry eye syndrome, make sure that you limit activities that may strain your eyes. If you are facing any mild irritation or feel that your vision is getting affected, visit our eye clinic to get your eyes checked immediately.

BlephEx®

Blepharitis is a condition responsible for a range of symptoms from severe itchiness, blurred vision, and redness to severe dry eye disease. This condition occurs when there is a bacterial buildup on the eyelids or the base of the eyelashes. The risk of developing Blepharitis increases with age and most optometrists and ophthalmologists report that this disease is seen in up to 47% of patients. In fact, Meibomian gland dysfunction caused by Blepharitis is among the primary causes of the dry eye disease.

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BlephEx® is a painless and quick revolutionary treatment to combat dry eyes and Blepharitis together. The BlephEx® procedure is performed by our trained eye care specialists to effectively reduce and alleviate the chronic and debilitating symptoms of the dry eyes. It involves eliminating the biofilm and bacterial toxins that cause inflammatory lid disease and dry eye. The result is improved overall health of the eyelids and eyes as a whole.

BlephEx® precisely and carefully spins a medical-grade micro-sponge along the edge of the patient’s eyelids and lashes, removing bacteria-causing scruff and debris while exfoliating the eyelids. The procedure is performed within 10 minutes and does not cause any discomfort as numbing drops are administered into the eyes before the procedure.

Depending on the severity of the individual’s condition, the BlephEx® treatment can be repeated at regular monthly intervals. By improving the eyelids’ condition, patients can experience normal tear production, thereby easing the symptoms associated with Blepharitis and dry eyes.

The LipiFlow® System

The LipiFlow® System is approved by the FDA. The LipiFlow® System provides controlled warmth and massage to the eyelids. The practitioner places the device around and behind the eyelids. The device rests gently on the eye, similar to a contact lens but it does not touch the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. The LipiFlow® System directs the controlled warmth to the inner eyelid surface while protecting and insulating the eye from the warmth. The temperature of warmth applied by the LipiFlow® System is slightly above normal body temperature, and below the level that will cause a harm to the eyelid or eye based on prior clinical studies. The LipiFlow® System also applies controlled massage to the outer eyelid surface to release oils from the blocked eyelid glands into the tear film.

During treatment, the patient will feel warmth and a pressure sensation on the eyelids. The treatment will take 12 minutes for each eye. At all times, your doctor will monitor the treatment process. At the end of the treatment, your doctor will remove the device from your eyelids and examine your eyes.

It is a medical device used by a doctor to apply warmth and massage to the eyelids to allow the oils from the blocked eyelid glands to flow into the tear film. During an eye examination, the doctor conducts testing to determine if the LipiFlow® System is a treatment option for a patient with blocked eyelid glands and associated dry eye symptoms.

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