Dry eye occurs when there is a tear film imbalance on the surface of your eyes. This can be caused by decreased tear production or by blockages in the meibomian gland within the eye lids. Tears are made up of 3 components: an oily layer, a watery layer, and a mucus layer. When the meibomian gland is blocked, the glands do not consistently produce the oil necessary for a stable tear film. This is referred to as meibomian gland disorder or MGD, which is present in 86% of dry eye patients. [1] Individuals over 40 have a greater risk of developing MGD. [2]
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be exhibiting signs of dry eye syndrome:
Over time, your eyes begin to produce fewer tears, especially for women going through menopause. Additionally, dry eye can be caused by:
Dry eye syndrome can be treated in several ways. A temporary solution is the use of over-the-counter artificial tears to lubricate the cornea. However, this approach does not address the underlying problem, which is often inflammation. To combat this, there’s an FDA-approved prescription eye drop called Restasis. Restasis decreases inflammation, preventing further eye damage and aiding the eye in creating more efficient lubrication.
Should the above approaches prove ineffective in improving your vision, or if a patient desires to reduce dependency on drops, Eye Surgery Associates offers the BlephEx treatment.
BlephEx ™ is a 6-8 minute in-office procedure for the treatment of blepharitis, a common contributor to dry eye symptoms. Over 30% of all patients suffer from some type of blepharitis symptoms [3] , including:
During the procedure, a numbing drop is placed in each eye for increased comfort, then the handheld BlephEx ™ device is used to precisely and carefully, spin a medical grade micro-sponge along the edge of your eyelids and lashes, removing scurf and debris and exfoliating your eyelids. Since home treatments are not completely effective on their own, the BlephEx ™ procedure is typically repeated at 4-6 month intervals.
We offer the following at-home treatment options for dry eye related symptoms are available for purchase in our optical shops:
