Dry eye is generally caused by a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye.
Symptoms of dry eye can range from subtle and mild to extreme - sometimes even causing damage, inflammation, and scaring to the front of the eye.
Our practice specializes in treating this condition. Dr. Tolchin has been specially trained in diagnosing and treating the root causes of dry eye using state-of-the-art technology and methods to give our patients the relief they deserve.
Do I Have Dry Eye?
Dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide and often a primary reason for a visit to the eye doctor!
Symptoms of dry eye may include:
Patients often think their ocular symptoms are due to allergies, but in fact, these symptoms are caused by dry eye!
What Causes Dry Eye?
A consistent layer of tears on the surface of the eye keeps them healthy, moist, and clean. This healthy tear film consists of three components:
Symptoms of dry eye can range from subtle and mild to extreme - sometimes even causing damage, inflammation, and scaring to the front of the eye.
Our practice specializes in treating this condition. Dr. Tolchin has been specially trained in diagnosing and treating the root causes of dry eye using state-of-the-art technology and methods to give our patients the relief they deserve.
Do I Have Dry Eye?
Dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide and often a primary reason for a visit to the eye doctor!
Symptoms of dry eye may include:
- Burning, itchy, scratchy, dry eyes
- Aching, fatigued, heavy , sore eyes - sometimes leading to excessive eye rubbing
- Redness, inflammation
- Excess tears, watery eyes
- Crusting, discharge, stringy mucus
- Foreign body sensation - feeling that there is something "in" your eye
- Sensitivity to light, blurred vision
Patients often think their ocular symptoms are due to allergies, but in fact, these symptoms are caused by dry eye!
What Causes Dry Eye?
A consistent layer of tears on the surface of the eye keeps them healthy, moist, and clean. This healthy tear film consists of three components:
- An oily (lipid) layer produced by the Meibomian glands which run along the upper and lower lids
- A watery (aqueous) layer produced by the Lacrimal glands located in the upper lids
- And a mucous-like (mucin) layer produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva which covers the white of the eye
|
|
A problem with the production of any of these components can result in dry eye. Also, outside factors such as abnormal bacterial growth or the presence of mites can lead to other dry eye-related conditions.
Some common causes and risk factors associated with dry eye may include:
Some common causes and risk factors associated with dry eye may include:
|
|
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
Evaporative dry eye, a condition affecting the meibomian glands, is one of the most common underlying causes of dry eye. Nearly 90% of people diagnosed with evaporative dry eye have MGD!
Essentially, MGD is characterized by tears that evaporate too quickly.
There are several meibomian glands along the upper and lower eyelids. These glands secrete the oily layer of tears (yellow in the diagram above) onto the surface of the eye. This helps keep the watery layer from evaporating too quickly.
MGD occurs when those glands are blocked so they don’t secrete enough oil into the tears. As a result, tears evaporate more quickly than they should.
Glands can get blocked with hardened oils, dead skin cells, makeup, blephritis debris, etc.
The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, evaporative dry eye is very treatable. That means you don’t have to just live with it! Click here to learn more about the LipiFlow treatment for MGD.
Evaporative dry eye, a condition affecting the meibomian glands, is one of the most common underlying causes of dry eye. Nearly 90% of people diagnosed with evaporative dry eye have MGD!
Essentially, MGD is characterized by tears that evaporate too quickly.
There are several meibomian glands along the upper and lower eyelids. These glands secrete the oily layer of tears (yellow in the diagram above) onto the surface of the eye. This helps keep the watery layer from evaporating too quickly.
MGD occurs when those glands are blocked so they don’t secrete enough oil into the tears. As a result, tears evaporate more quickly than they should.
Glands can get blocked with hardened oils, dead skin cells, makeup, blephritis debris, etc.
The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, evaporative dry eye is very treatable. That means you don’t have to just live with it! Click here to learn more about the LipiFlow treatment for MGD.
What Can I Do?
During every yearly comprehensive eye exam Dr. Tolchin will evaluate you for the presence and severity of dry eye. This evaluation includes meibography (please click here for more information) and other tests and treatments where appropriate in order to diagnose and treat your specific type of dry eye.
We also offer dry eye evaluation visits where the doctor is able to assess your eye health and perform any dry eye tests even if you are not due for a comprehensive eye exam. Please call the office with any questions, we are here for you!
If you feel any symptoms of dry eye please take note! This will help the doctor evaluate your condition at your next visit.
The specific type of dry eye often will determine the type of treatment Dr. Tolchin will recommend to give you the most relief from your dry eye symptoms. Please read below for an explanation of some common types of dry eye and their primary treatment methods.
During every yearly comprehensive eye exam Dr. Tolchin will evaluate you for the presence and severity of dry eye. This evaluation includes meibography (please click here for more information) and other tests and treatments where appropriate in order to diagnose and treat your specific type of dry eye.
We also offer dry eye evaluation visits where the doctor is able to assess your eye health and perform any dry eye tests even if you are not due for a comprehensive eye exam. Please call the office with any questions, we are here for you!
If you feel any symptoms of dry eye please take note! This will help the doctor evaluate your condition at your next visit.
The specific type of dry eye often will determine the type of treatment Dr. Tolchin will recommend to give you the most relief from your dry eye symptoms. Please read below for an explanation of some common types of dry eye and their primary treatment methods.
Lipiflow® Thermal Pulsation
Lipiflow® Thermal Pulsation
- Using very gentle pulsation and heat, LipiFlow unclogs the meibomian glands and relieves MGD. When those glands are free and clear, they’re able to function properly to restore balance to your tears.
- For more detailed information on these conditions and on Lipiflow please click here.
- This technology is often used in conjunction with Microblepharo Exfoliation (click here for more information on this procedure) for increased gland stimulation and the most through cleaning.
- Wipes, eye drops and/or vitamins may then be prescribed along with follow-up treatments at regular intervals to maintain the healthy eye-environment.
Microblepharo Exfoliation using BlephEx Technology®
- Some symptoms of dry eye can be attributed to either blepharitis or demodex infestation. For more detailed information on these conditions please click here.
- Blepharitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the eyelids caused by an overgrowth of normal bacteria which live along the lid and the base of the eyelashes.
- Demodex are microscopic mites which live in the shaft of each eyelash.
- Dr. Tolchin is able to treat these conditions by carefully and precisely cleaning the eyelids.
Drops, Supplements, and Medications
- Failure of the Lacrimal gland to produce enough of the watery component can lead to Aqueous Deficiency Dry Eye. In this case, tears become too salty and can begin to irritate the outer layers of the eye leading to inflammation and possibly damage in severe cases.
- Routinely using over the counter artificial tears can help to re-balance the aqueous layer may help in mild cases.
- We recommend only using PRESERVATIVE FREE (packaged as individual/single-use vials) artificial tears such as Retaine MGD, Systane, TheraTears, or Refresh.
- Dietary supplements such as HydroEye may help to support the production and secretion of tears by delivering a blend of fatty acids, vitamins, and nutrients.
- In more serious cases, Dr. Tolchin may prescribe Xiidra or Restasis. These medications work to reduce inflammation and improve the function of the lacrimal glands and meibomian glangs, and promote regrowth of the goblet cells. This results in an overall improvement of the tear film and leads to reduced damage to the eye surface and improvement in dry eye symptoms.
Punctal Plugs
- Punctal plugs are very small plugs which may be either dissolvable or permanent depending on your needs.
- In a short and painless in-office procedure Dr. Tolchin is able to insert these plugs into the lower or upper punctum or "tear-duct" of each eye.
- Plugs slow the drainage of tears and therefore help the eye to retain the tears for a longer time reducing some symptoms of dry eye.
Lifestyle Changes
Additionally small lifestyle changes can greatly improve the symptoms of dry eye, find a comfortable routine that works for you!
|
|
|
|
|