Dry Eye Therapy
Dry Eye Therapy Mississauga
Dry eye is a multi-factorial condition that may have no early symptoms, but typically consists of any or all of the following symptoms: gritty or foreign body sensation, red eyes that are often worse by the end of the day, fluctuating vision, tired and/or watery eyes. It is the most common presenting complaint and is considered a chronic, inflammatory condition that requires both monitoring and maintenance therapy. With increased screen time, there is an increased prevalence of dry eye disease, and it is now affecting younger patients. There are several available treatment options:
- pharmaceutical tear modulators (Restasis, Cequa, and Xiidra)
- artificial tears (preserved and unpreserved)
- antibiotics to treat MGD
- night-time ointments and gels
- anti-inflammatories (steroids)
- scleral lenses
- medical procedures such as punctal plugs
- amniotic membranes in moderate to severe cases
- eyelid cleansing or debridement
- warm compresses and gland expression
- eye whiteners (LUMIFY)
- nutritional supplements such as Omega-3
- IPL or RF treatment of the eyelids to relieve symptoms and minimize ocular tissue damage.
- photo-biomodulation with red light
Find out your dry eye score before your eye exam by clicking here.
Omega-3 is often prescribed for frequent chalazion, meibomian gland dysfunction, and dry eye due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to improve oil secretion quality. Vitamin D is also often added to help tear quality, and its deficiency may be linked to those suffering from dry eye.
A dry eye is often associated with an overgrowth of bacteria, excessive biofilm presence, and blocked meibomian glands. Daily lid hygiene may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms or sources of your dry eye.
Warm compresses are often prescribed for chalazion, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry, and tired eyes. We do not recommend they be used for treating allergies or eye infections. In these cases, cold compresses can help reduce symptoms of itching and eye discomfort, in combination with other more targeted treatments. Our new Comfylids eye mask is a wireless, rechargeable device that has a timer and four heat settings to provide customized relief.
Watch the video below regarding the use of punctal plugs for the treatment of dry eye.
The Jett Pen Treatment For Dry, Tired Eyes. New Treatment Offering!
The Jett Pen is a medical-lift ophthalmology device that employs thermal focused electroporation for the rejuvenation of facial skin and meibomian glands in the treatment of dry eye.
What is Plasma?
Plasma is a fourth state of matter – ionized gas – and can be generated by continuously transmitting energy to a gaseous material. Skin retraction/collagen stimulation, skin discoloration, wrinkle reduction, lid rejuvenation, xanthelasma removal, as well as other minor skin lesions, can all be safely treated using plasma generation.
10-minute sessions are scheduled weekly for 3 to 4 weeks in the treatment of dry eye and peri-ocular skin rejuvenation – with effects lasting typically up to 12 months. Patient satisfaction rates approach 90%. They are safe and well-tolerated.
Special Pricing for a limited time. Call to book your consultation to see if Jett is right for you.
Amniotic Membranes
These contact lens-like membranes are placed on the cornea to facilitate healing, packed with proteins and growth factors derived from placental tissue to act like a super bandaid. The membranes are thin biological grafts that your cornea naturally absorbs in under 5 days. The many benefits of this treatment include: faster healing, reduced pain, inflammation, and scarring. To learn more, click here.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an eye condition that can worsen dry eye symptoms. Wikipedia offers the following definition on blepharitis: one of the most common ocular conditions characterized by inflammation, scaling, reddening, and crusting of the eyelid. This condition may also cause burning, itching, or a grainy sensation when introducing foreign objects or substances to the eye. Although blepharitis is not sight-threatening, it can lead to permanent alterations of the eyelid margin. The overall etiology is a result of bacteria and inflammation from congested meibomian oil glands at the base of each eyelash. Other conditions may give rise to blepharitis, whether they be infectious or noninfectious, including, but not limited to, bacterial infections or allergies.
Mississauga Dry Eye Treatment
The Science of Tears
The tear film is comprised of 3 layers: mucin, aqueous, and oil (meibum) that protects the surface of the eye. When the tear film is disturbed from its optimal composition, it results in the symptoms already mentioned. The most common cause of dry eye is evaporative dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
Tear Film Osmolarity and Dry Eye
When either the quantity or quality of secreted tears is compromised (known as either aqueous-deficient or evaporative dry eye disease), a more concentrated tear film results (i.e., increased osmolarity). This elevated concentration places stress on the ocular surface tissues, namely the corneal epithelium and the bulbar conjunctiva.
The I-Pen is a quick and safe electronic device used to measure your tear film osmolarity, or the concentration of dissolved salts in your tears.
Knowing your tear film osmolarity value is useful in cases of dry eye symptoms, in the diagnosis of certain ocular surface disorders which affect tear film osmolarity, for all pre/post-surgical patient assessments (i.e., those undergoing LASIK or cataract surgery), and for monitoring the progress of therapy over time. This is a quick and painless test to aid in the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease.
These are some of the common contributing factors that can lead to chronic dry eye disease:
- Auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disease, and lupus
- Medicines such as beta-blockers, antihistamines, diuretics, Accutane, glaucoma, and anxiety medications
- Refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK or cataract surgery
- Contact lens use
- bacterial infestation of the eyelids known as blepharitis (see below and one of its treatments)
Understanding the tear film can help us determine the underlying cause of dry eye and what needs to be supplemented or addressed.
Other contributing factors that can aggravate dry eye symptoms include: dry climates, smoke/smog/pollution, wind, low indoor humidity, allergies, decreased blink rate (often seen with computer viewing), menopause, advanced age, entropian and ectropian (inward and outward misdirection of the eyelids, respectively), and prolonged computer work.
Blephex In-Office Therapy
Mississauga Dry Eye Therapy
Computer Vision Syndrome
Long periods staring at a computer or smartphone screen contribute to dry eyes from a lack of blinking, as previously mentioned. Computer vision syndrome can consist of any of the following symptoms experienced while working with digital devices or computer screens: tired, sore eyes, burning or gritty sensation, blurred or strained vision, and watery eyes. Proper screen ergonomics, prescription lenses, and ocular lubricants are some of the tools we have available to alleviate symptoms. A good rule to follow is known as the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes in front of a digital screen, take a 20-second break while looking at something 20 feet (or far away).
Take our dry eye questionnaire and submit it before your eye exam by clicking here.
Punctal Plugs, also known as punctal occluders, are small, bio-compatible devices that are painlessly inserted into the tear duct to slow tear drainage. This ultimately increases the volume of tears persisting on the ocular surface, with the added moisture helping to relieve dry eyes. This procedure is widely performed, safe, and easy to apply in about 2 minutes. Our plugs are collagen-based and slowly dissolve over three months. In treating dry eye with punctal plugs, there is often a measured improvement achieved in tear breakup time (TBUT), reduced corneal staining, and reduced vision fluctuations due to increased tear stability. Punctal occlusion has been reported to be very effective for the treatment of dry eye in relieving symptoms while enabling patients to reduce their dependency on lubricants.
