How Do You Know If You Have Dry Eye?
Do your eyes itch, burn, or feel gritty? These can be symptoms of dry eye. Chronic dry eye occurs when your eyes do not make enough tears or the tears are missing important components. Fortunately, the most common cause of dry eye can be relieved with a painless, highly effective treatment.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye can occur for multiple reasons. Some cases of dry eye happen when the eyes do not produce enough tears. This can happen in some medical conditions or for other reasons.
Other cases occur because the tears are missing a key component that they need to do their job. This type of dry eye is significantly more common.
How Do You Know if You Have Dry Eye?
Many people with chronic dry eye experience persistent symptoms. These can include:
- Burning
- Itching
- Sensitivity
- A scratchy or gritty feeling
- Redness
You can have dry eye symptoms even if you seem to have plenty of tears. Tears are made of three layers: oil, water, and mucus. If any of these are missing, tears may fail to keep your eyes lubricated.
What Causes Dry Eye?
86% of dry eye cases are caused by a lack of oil in the tears. This oil layer normally keeps the water component of tears from evaporating too fast. The oil is produced in Meibomian glands, which are located along the edges of the eyelids. They secrete oil into your tears, but they can become clogged and stop working. Blocked Meibomian glands cause a condition called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). In this condition, tears evaporate too quickly, leaving the eyes itchy and irritated.
How is Dry Eye Treated?
Meibomian gland function can be improved by unblocking the glands. LipiFlow® offers a highly effective treatment for MGD. This gentle treatment combines warmth and pulses of pressure to release oil and debris from the glands. LipiFlow® uses a single-use applicator to protect your eyes while it unblocks the Meibomian glands. You can see improvements in your dry eye within two to four weeks.
Request a Consultation
We’d love to help you get all the information you need in order to make the best choice for your eyes. Request a consultation today! Our staff is available and happy to answer your every question.
Is There Any Downtime With LipiFlow® Dry Eye Treatment?
Non-invasive LipiFlow® does not require any downtime. You can return to your regular activities immediately. Patients experience no discomfort during or after treatment.
Am I a Good Candidate for LipiFlow® Dry Eye Treatment?
The majority of people with dry eye will achieve relief with LipiFlow®. This treatment is safe, gentle, and effective. However, not everyone with dry eye has MGD. We will perform a full assessment, including several tests, to determine the underlying causes of your condition so we can recommend the correct treatment.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about dry eye treatment, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling (780) 452-4111. We look forward to helping you!
