Dry Eye Therapy

Helping You Find Relief from Dry Eyes

Dry eye disease is a progressive, debilitating condition that can cause significant discomfort and difficulty in performing daily activities. Typically, your eyes produce an adequate amount of good quality tears that keep your eyes lubricated. When your eyes are not making enough tears or the tears they make are low quality, dry eye disease symptoms can occur.

Many different factors, both internal and external, can exacerbate the symptoms of dry eye. Knowing what they are can help you avoid discomfort and seek treatment when necessary.

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The Role of Your Tears

Your tears keep your eyes free from bacteria so they can stay comfortable and free from irritants. They are essential to help you see clearly and can help you communicate your emotions.

The lacrimal glands above each eye produce your tears, and they drain into the puncta, holes in the corners of your upper and lower eyelids. The tears then travel through small canals and empty into your nose, where they evaporate or are reabsorbed.

What Tears Are Made Of

The tear film is the layer of tears that cover the eyes’ surface and keep them lubricated. The tear film is made up of 3 layers:

The oily, outermost layer that prevents the tears from evaporating.
The watery, middle layer that keeps the eye hydrated and repels bacteria.
The innermost mucus layer that keeps the tear fastened to the eye.

What Causes Dry Eye Disease?

Often, dry eyes are caused by a lack of high-quality tears. However, many different factors can exacerbate symptoms, some of which you may be able to control.

Some common causes of dry eye include:

Changes in hormones due to ageing
Hormone replacement therapy
Exposure to windy or very dry climates
Prolonged exposure to artificial warm or cold air
Allergies
Laser eye surgery
Medications, like antihistamines or antidepressants
Long-term contact lens wear
Digital eye strain
Not blinking enough

Treating Dry Eye Disease

If you are experiencing any symptoms of dry eye disease, you should give us a call for a comprehensive eye exam as soon as possible. We can assess your eyes for what is causing your discomfort and recommend an appropriate treatment to alleviate symptoms and give you relief.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to give us a call so we can answer them to the best of our abilities.

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