Dry Eye Products
Dry eye management can involve eye drops such as MeiboTears, lid hygiene products such as TLC Sensitive Lid Wipes, Intense Pulsed Light Photo-biomodulation (IPL) and punctal occlusion with punctal plugs.
Eye drops such as MeiboTears and Hycosan Shield top up both the watery and the lipid components of the tears. This increases tear volume and reduces evaporative loss.
The lipid layer of the tears can also be improved by oral supplementation with omega 3 fish oils. Actase OmegaEye Daily is a hyper-refined fish oil omega 3 supplement designed to optimise a patient’s meibomian secretions, therefore reducing tear evaporation rates and inflammation.
TLC Lid Wipes are great for more sensitive eyes as they are preservative free and contain a soothing chamomile extract. TLC wipes are also great at unblocking the Meibomian glands and for general lid hygiene.
The efficiency of lid hygiene is massively improved if a hot compress using a MeiboMask is performed prior to lid cleaning and a Meibo-Mask cold compress is done afterwards.
We prefer the MeiboMask to the various seed-filled cloth bags which can also be used as hot compresses. This is because the MeiboMask gets sterilised each time and is therefore more hygienic and suitable for long term use.
Prior to lid hygiene, one Meibo Mask is used as a hot compress to melt the waxy deposits which block the Meibomian glands. Heated in boiling water for 40 seconds, the MeiboMask reaches a suitable, safe temperature and stays warm for up to three minutes.
Then following lid hygiene, another MeiboMask from the freezer can be used as a cold compress to cool the eyes back down again. This prevents the eyes getting red and the lids getting puffy. This is also helpful in reducing the redness and itchiness associated with eye allergies such as hay fever. Cooling the engorged blood vessels on the white of the eye and in the eyelids reduces histamine release and eyelid swelling. Patients with dry eyes are often more prone to ocular allergy.
In mild to moderate eye allergy, Optase Allergy unit-dose eye drops are very helpful. If symptoms are more severe it is sensible to book in to see our therapeutic optometrists, as stronger treatments may be recommended. It may be possible to do this through the NHS CUES scheme in some cases.
Radiator Humidifiers aid greatly in the relief of dry eye symptoms. Filled with water, the radiator warmth causes slow evaporation, increasing atmospheric humidity – perfect for the winter months when we spend more time indoors with the central heating on.
Another option to increase the meibomian secretions is to use the Peep Club Eye Wand. This a small handheld device which can be used to warm and massage the lid margins. The Eye Wand is also available in a hypoallergenic, nickel free option.
Peep Club and Optase both produce lipid sprays which can be used both as standalone products or in conjunction with the Peep Wand. The product releases lipids slowly into the tears after being sprayed on the upper eyelids.
At Eyecare Specialists, we also offer in-practice treatments for moderate to severe dry eye - for example Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and punctal occlusion. For more information, please visit our page on dry eye assesments.