Treating Dryness in the Blink of an Eye
Living with dry eye can be uncomfortable and impact the activities of your daily life. Fortunately, there are many treatment solutions both at our practice and at home that can help to soothe your dry eye and help you get back to clear and comfortable vision.
Dry eye is quite common, with 30% of people over the age of 50 dealing with dry eye. Don’t live with the symptoms of dry eye longer than you have to. Visit us today for an assessment and discussion of treatment options today.
What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a condition where the eye does not produce enough tears in order to properly lubricate the surface. If you are living with dry eye, your eyes may feel irritated, painful, gritty, or redness may occur.
To diagnose dry eye there are a number of assessments we can provide, including dye and paper strip tests to determine the level of moisture in the eye. We can also image the meibomian glands to learn more about your symptoms.
Common Causes & Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye can share some symptoms with seasonal allergies or general eye irritation, so knowing what to look out for and what may cause dry eye can be helpful in determining if you may have dry eye. Book an assessment with a doctor to determine your dry eye diagnosis.
There are a number of potential causes for dry eye, including:
- Aging
- Hormonal changes
- UV exposure and environmental changes
- Certain health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, or Parkinson’s
- Medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, or oral contraceptives
- Family history
Look out for these signs and symptoms of dry eye and talk to your doctor if you are experiencing one or all of the following:
- Redness
- Burning
- Stinging
- Gritty feeling in the eye
- Feeling like something is always in the eye
- Excessive tears, in some cases.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a condition that can result in dry eye. MGD occurs when the meibum in your eye, which is the oily layer in the tear layer, changes and no longer keeps the moisture from evaporating. This creates a drier environment on the eye’s surface and leads to dry eye.
Dry Eye Treatments
With the proper treatment, dry eye can be managed, and relief can be attained. With a combination of in-office and at-home treatments, we can help to alleviate your dry eye and maintain clear, comfortable vision.
In-Office Treatments
We offer a variety of in-office treatments for you to choose from depending on your case of dry eye.
Radiofrequency works as a treatment for dry eye by producing heat through a high-frequency current, which helps to unclog blockages in the eye causing MGD.
Lipiflow is another heat-based treatment for MGD, but this device uses massage as well. In just 12 minutes, this device can alleviate blockages with the Thermal Pulsation System.
ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is designed to help with eyelid debridement and help relieve dry eye symptoms. ZEST works by helping to remove bacteria, debris, oil, and residue from the eyelids with gentle exfoliation.
IPL, or intense pulsed light treatment, is used by sending out pulses of light onto the skin. IPL treats dry eye by using pulses in the eye area to restore meibomian gland function.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve dry eye symptoms due to the lipid fatty acid content. Omega-3 has been shown to increase the quality of tears produced.
PRN DE3 Omega 3s have been clinically proven and evaluated by Health Canada to improve the signs and relieve they symptoms of dry eye.
Bruder masks use gentle, warming heat to provide relief from dry eyes caused by MGD and blepharitis. The mask uses heat to melt thickened meibum, improving meibomian gland function and slowing the evaporation rate of your tears.
Thealoz Duo eye drops may be prescribed to patients with moderate to severe dry eye to be used in conjunction with regular in-office treatments. As its name suggests, these eye drops contain two significant ingredients: trehalose and sodium hyaluronate.
Trehalose is used to protect the eye’s epithelial cells so they can become more resistant to the everyday stress of dry environments and tear film changes that can cause dry eye. Sodium hyaluronate is used to help your tears retain the water they need to hydrate and lubricate your eye’s surface.
Thealoz Duo drops are clinically proven to increase film thickness for up to 4 hours, with Thealoz Duo gel increasing tear film thickness for up to 6 hours.
OCUNOX Eye Ointment is designed for overnight corneal protection. The cornea is particularly sensitive to drying at night since our eyes don’t typically produce tears while we are sleeping. OCUNOX is designed to protect the surface of the eye and improve your tear film, providing long-lasting dry eye relief during the day.
BIHOCL O.D. features powerful active ingredients and an innovative formula and can provide fast and effective relief from the discomfort of dry eyes.
This eye drop solution works to moisturize and soothe your eyes, promoting hydration and comfort.
Blephaclean wipes are preservative-free individual sterile lid wipes. These wipes can help to reduce signs and symptoms of blepharitis.
Blephaclean wipes are used about 1 or 2 times daily per week.
Blephagel Duo is a preservative-free cleansing gel that helps maintain optimal ocular hygiene. Blephagel Duo is recommended to be used 1 or 2 times daily as needed.
ZocuFoam is a natural eyelid cleanser formulated with okra complexes to address the root cause of irritated and dry eyes. ZocuFoam provides a soothing and calming action. With its gentle foaming formula, this product efficiently removes debris on the lids and lashes, helping to manage dryness and discomfort.
ZocuFoam can also help treat Demodex issues, which can cause blepharitis, resulting in inflammation of the eyelids and severe dry eye.
ZocuFoam is recommended to be used 1 time daily for 2 months, then 2 times per week ongoing after that.
Zaspray is a 3-in-1 solution for soothing, hydrating, and relieving dry eyes caused by allergies. With its unique formulation and natural plant extracts, Zaspray can provide long-lasting relief from itchy, irritated, and red eyes.
This easy-to-use spray contains sodium hyaluronate, offering a lubricating effect to keep your eyes moisturized and comfortable throughout the day.
At-Home Treatments
After visiting our office, we offer a variety of at-home maintenance treatments to help prolong the results of our in-office treatments.
Dry Eye & Digital Eye Strain
If you spend a lot of time in front of a screen, you may be experiencing digital eye strain, leading to dry eye. Digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, is caused by excessive screen time, resulting in irritation and fatigue of the eyes. Dry eye is also a common symptom of digital eye strain, as we tend to blink less when on digital screens.
Take Our Dry Eye Pre-Screening Quiz
If you think you may be experiencing dry eye, take our pre-screening quiz
Take the TestAccess Your CEQUA Savings Card Online
Patients can access the CEQUA savings cards virtually (and easily) by visiting http://www.cequa.ca and selecting the “Enroll in CEQUA Patient Benefit Program” on the homepage.
OR
You can go directly to https://www.cequapatientbenefitprogram.ca/ to enroll.
It will only take you around 2 minutes to fill out, and it can be done on your mobile device or the clinic desktop at Upper Richmond Optometry before you leave the office. The CEQUA Savings Card provides patients with a virtual rather than physical savings card that they can show to their pharmacist.
Patients will need to select “No” when asked if they have a physical card and will be asked to input their CEQUA DIN #: 02512629. This number never changes.
For more information, feel free to ask our team.
Get Help for Your Dry Eyes
Dry eye and its symptoms can be frustrating, but we are here to help you get the treatment you need and find the relief that you crave. Book an assessment to get started.
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Eye disease can come in different forms, like cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Our office helps diagnose and manage the different forms of eye disease. Learn more about how we can help.
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We’re proud to serve North London and Arva. We’re currently located on Medway Road, right across from the Arva Fire Station and next to Medway High School.
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- 14361 Medway Road (Lower Level)
- Arva, ON N0M 1C0
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- Phone: 519-660-8854
- Email: [email protected]
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- 14361 Medway Road (Lower Level)
- Arva, ON N0M 1C0
- Phone: 519-660-8854
- Email: [email protected]