The two main root causes of dry eyes are an inability to produce enough tears called Aqueous Deficient Dry Eyes and another process where the tears are evaporating too quickly called Evaporative Deficient Dry Eyes from unhealthy Meibomian glands. Effective treatment of dry eyes requires a differentiation of the two disease states. In the past, we could only detect the presence of dry eyes, but had a very difficult time assessing the root cause of the issue. Now we have Meibography technology that allows us to see below the surface of the eyelids like an X-ray and examine the Meibomian Oil Glands. We also have additional tests to determine the state of your tears as well as to identify patients that may otherwise be missed with other dry eye testing methods.
Our doctors may prescribe you home therapy such as moisture retention eyemask, eyelid cleansing regiment, customized artificial tears, medication, and nutraceutical supplements.
Our doctors may also perform in office procedure such as:
Lid Hygiene Deep Cleansing Treatment helps your eyes look and feel better, naturally. Over 85% of dry eye originates from the eyelids. All the dirt, oil, dead skin, bacteria, and mites that accumulate over time on your eyelids (akin to tartar on your teeth) can lead to redness, tearing, irritation, conjunctivitis, and recurrent styes.
Puntal Plugs is plugging the openings to the tear ducts with tiny collagen or silicone plugs. These plugs close the tiny opening (punctum) that you have in the inner corner of your upper and lower eyelids. The closure conserves both your own tears and artificial tears you may have added.
Prescription Medications are used to increase natural tear production while some are used to decreased inflammation or infestation of Demodex.
Dry Eye Scleral Lenses are designed to avoid the sensitive cornea and help retain moisture on the surface of the eye by continuous hydration for the eye. When you wear dry eye scleral lenses, the area between the scleral lens and the surface of the cornea is filled with saline solution.
Amniotic Membranes are placed directly on the front of the eye, and provide not only a nourishing and protective barrier to help facilitate corneal health, but can also provide rejuvenating stem cell contributions to the cornea and prevent future corneal damage due to dryness.
Autologous Serum Eye Drop are extracting your own blood, centrifuging it, separating out the serum, and finally making eye drops of appropriate concentration and packaging and freezing them. The serum contains growth factors, which have anti-inflammatory and healing effects.
Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) is using non-ionizing energy to trigger changes in the cells in our tissue, Increase ATP, nitric oxide, and decrease oxidative stress. As a result, it promote healing and tissue repair and reduces inflammation. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a revolutionary treatment for dry eyes that may offer you relief. IPL therapy targets the source of dry eye disease rather than the individual symptoms. It works by applying light energy to the eyelid area to warm the meibomian glands, making it easier for our doctors to express the glands. It also directly addresses the inflammation that blocks your meibomian glands, providing longer-term relief. This light therapy can help reduce abnormal blood vessels and demodex mites that often associates with dry eyes.
This process improves the quality of your tear film, helping resolve your dry eye symptoms.
Cosmetically, it also removes sun spots, age spots, and helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Typically several treatments over a period of time improve dry eye symptoms. Depending on the severity of your dry eye symptoms, our doctors may recommend fewer or more treatments.