Dry Eye Appointment

What is dry eye?

 

Dry eye is caused by either a patient not secreting enough water into their tears, often a problem post-menopause or associated with certain inflammatory conditions, or excess evaporation of the watery component of the tears often due to blocked oily glands on the lid margin.

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How can dry eye be managed?

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Dry eye management can involve eye drops such as Meibo Tears, lid hygiene with products such as Theratears Sterilid and TLC Sensitive Lid Wipes, Intense Pulsed Light Photo-biomodulation (IPL) and punctal occlusion either with punctal plugs or cautery. Eye drops such as Meibo Tears, both top up the watery component of the tears ansd supplement the lipid layer of the tears, reducing evaporative loss.

The oily glands narrow as we get older and the composition of the oils secreted becomes viscous and can solidify and completely block the glands.These blocked glands often become inflamed and infected – this is called blepharitis which can make your eyelids red, itchy, burning and sore and sting. In severe cases, your lashes may fall out, the eyelids become swollen and you can develop corneal ulcers and styes.The symptoms tend to be often worse in the morning and when you wake up you may find your lids are stuck together. Being a chronic condition it can come back if lid hygiene is neglected. The lipid layer of the tears can be improved by oral supplementation with omega 3 fish and flax oils.

Sterilid Gel helps unblock meibomian glands and contain an extract of Tea Tree oil which helps reduce the bacteria associated with blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. TLC Lid Wipes are great for more sensitive eyes, are preservative free and contain camomile extract, they are great at unblocking the meibomian glands and 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 MieboMask cold compress is done afterwards. Heated in boiling water for 40 seconds, they stay warm for up to three minutes. One mask is used as a hot compress to melt the waxy deposits which block the Meibomian glands, prior to lid cleaning, another is kept in the freezer to be used as a cold compress after cleaning the lids to cool the eyes back down again.

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. Punctal occlusion and cautery reduce the speed the tears drain away. These can be helpful when a very low tear volume is present. IPL – Intense Pulsed Light treatment reduces inflammation, stimulates the lipid glands by PhotoBioModulation to produce better secretions and kills mites and bacteria living in the oily glands.