Dry Eye

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye disease is a common condition that affects a large majority of the population and occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate and unstable for many reasons. There are multiple forms of dry eye which affect the eyes in different ways.

Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: The eyes do not produce enough of the aqueous layer or watery layer of the tear film.

Evaporative Dry Eye is when portions of the tear film evaporate quickly and do not provide an adequate tear film.

Inflammatory Dry Eye occurs when inflammation around the lids and lashes leads to a reduction of the oily layer of the tear film.

In some cases some patients will have a combination of more than one type of dry eye.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Allergies
Autoimmune conditions such as Hyper or Hypothyroidism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease and much more.
Daily Environment (dusty, windy, hot/dry) such as working in a construction site, kitchen, or hospital etc.
Decreased hormones associated with aging
Pregnancy and associated hormonal changes
Eyelid inflammation (blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction)
Medication/supplement use including, such as OTC cold medicines, anti-histamines, beta-blockers, pain relievers, sleeping pills, diuretics, hormonal replacement, and oral contraceptives
Sjogren's syndrome (dry mucous membranes throughout body)
Eye surgery, post refractive surgery (LASIK or PRK)
Contact lens use and contact lens overwear.
Neurologic conditions including: stroke, Bell's palsy, Parkinson's, trigeminal nerve dysfunction
Exposure keratitis, eyelids do not close completely during sleep (lagophthalmos)
Diabetes
Infectious Keratitis, including Herpes Simplex and Herpes Zoster Keratitis
Neurotrophic Keratitis

Dry Eye Symptoms

Treatments For Dry Eyes

Although a complete cure for dry eye remains unavailable, there are several methods to alleviate its symptoms and help manage the condition to prevent it from worsening. The primary objective is to enhance tear production by improving meibomian glands (oil glands of the lids) and reduce eye inflammation.

Everyone Eyecare is proud to offer several non-invasive dry eye treatments and procedures. These advanced, non-invasive treatments that target inflammation, improve meibomian gland function, and enhance tear film stability for dry eye relief.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
RF (Radio Frequency)
LLLT (Low-Level Light Therapy)

Presently, numerous types of medicated eye drops exist to enhance tear production.

Vevye
Xiidra
Cequa
Restasis

Additionally, a nasal spray has been developed to stimulate increased tear production.

Tyrvaya

Early stages of treatment typical consistant of artifical tears and lid cleansers.

Optase (artificial tears)
Zocular (Eyelid cleanser)

Over the past few years, there has been significant progress in the range of treatments provided by eye doctors to alleviate dry eye symptoms. To explore how Everyone Eyecare can assist you, schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation today.