Dry Eye Treatment

Services We Provide:

• TearCare

• Eyelid Gland Expression

• Tear Duct Irrigation

• Eyelid Exfoliation

• Zocular ZEST Eyelid Cleaning

• Meibomian Gland Probing

• Amniotic Membrane Transplantation

• Punctal Plugs

• Bandage Contact Lenses

• Autologous Serum (Vital Tears) and Compounded Albumin Drop Therapy

• Holman Omega-3 Testing

• Lacrifill Hyaluronic Acid Canalicular Gel

• CAM 360 Cryopreserved AmnioGraft

• Tear Film Analysis

• Tear Break Up Time (TBUT)

• Blink Rate 

• Tear Meniscus Height

• Meibography (Infrared Gland Imaging)

• External Ocular Photography w/ Vital Dyes, and Schirmer Tear Test

Dry Eye can have a major impact on your quality of life. You may find your eyes get tired faster or you have difficulty reading. Not to mention the discomfort of a burning sensation or blurry vision. Let’s take a look at dry eye treatments – from simple self-care to innovative prescriptions and therapies – to help you see clearly and comfortably.

What is Dry Eye?

Understanding dry eye will help you determine the best treatment option. Dry eye occurs when a person doesn't have enough quality tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears reduce eye infections, wash away foreign matter, and keep the eye’s surface smooth and clear. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are poor quality. It’s a common and often chronic problem, especially in older adults.
 

Preventive Self-Care

Before we delve into more serious dry eye treatment options, here are a few simple self-care options that can manage minor cases of dry eye.

• Blink regularly when reading or staring at a computer screen for a long time.

• Make sure there’s adequate humidity in the air at work and at home.

• Wear sunglasses outside to reduce sun and wind exposure. Wraparound glasses are best.

• Take supplements with essential fatty acids as these may decrease dry eye symptoms.

• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to avoid dehydration.

• Find out if any of your prescriptions have dry eye as a side effect and if so, see if you can take an alternative.
   

Artificial Tears

For mild cases of dry eyes, the best option is over-the-counter eye drops. Here are a few tips for selecting the right one:

• Low viscosity – These artificial tears are watery. They often provide quick relief with little or no blurring of your vision, but their effect can be brief, and sometimes you must use these drops frequently to get adequate relief.

• High viscosity – These are more gel-like and provide longer-lasting lubrication. However, these drops can cause significant blurring of your vision for several minutes. For this reason, high-viscosity artificial tears are recommended at bedtime.
   

Prescription Dry Eye Treatments

There are several prescriptions that treat dry eye differently. Your eye doctor can advise the best option for your situation.

• Contact Lenses – There are specialty contact lenses that deliver moisture to the surface of the eye. They’re called scleral lenses or bandage lenses.

• Antibiotics– If your eyelids are inflamed, this can prevent oil glands from secreting oil into your tears. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics to reduce inflammation.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs – These are eye drops to control inflammation on the surface of your eyes (cornea) using the immune-suppressing medication corticosteroids.

• Eye Inserts – If artificial tears don't help, another option may be a tiny eye insert. Once a day, you place the hydroxypropyl cellulose (Lacrisert) insert between your lower eyelid and your eyeball. It dissolves slowly, releasing a substance to lubricate your eye.

• Tear-stimulating drugs – Available as pills, gel or eye drops, cholinergic (pilocarpine, cevimeline), these help to increase tear production.

• Autologous blood serum drops – For serious dry eye that’s not responding to other treatment, these eyedrops are made with a sample of your blood. It’s processed to remove the red blood cells and then mixed with a salt solution.
   

Dry Eye Procedures

TearCare
TearCare is a comfortable, in-office treatment that gently warms your eyelids to help unclog blocked oil glands. These glands produce the oils that keep your tears from evaporating too quickly. It’s a great option for patients with dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The procedure is quick, and many people feel relief right away.

Eyelid Gland Expression
This procedure helps release oils trapped in the meibomian glands of your eyelids. By applying gentle pressure, we can help restore proper oil flow, which is essential for a healthy tear film. It’s often combined with heat-based treatments for maximum benefit.

Tear Duct Irrigation
If your eyes are watery or irritated, you might have a blockage in your tear drainage system. Tear duct irrigation flushes out your tear ducts with a gentle saline solution to clear any debris or blockages. It’s a simple, safe procedure that often provides immediate relief.

Eyelid Exfoliation
This treatment gently removes debris, dead skin cells, and bacteria from the base of your eyelashes. Think of it like a deep cleanse for your eyelids! It’s especially helpful for people with blepharitis or chronic dry eye, and it leaves your eyes feeling fresh and clean.

Zocular ZEST Eyelid Cleaning
ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is a natural, plant-based deep cleaning treatment for your eyelids and lashes. It helps remove bacteria, biofilm, and debris that can contribute to dry eye and inflammation. It’s gentle, effective, and provides long-lasting relief.

Meibomian Gland Probing
This specialized treatment is used when the oil glands in your eyelids are severely blocked. Using a tiny probe, we gently open the gland to restore proper function. It can provide significant relief for patients with advanced meibomian gland dysfunction.

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation
This advanced therapy uses a healing tissue called an amniotic membrane to treat severe dry eye or corneal damage. The membrane is placed on the surface of the eye like a bandage and promotes healing, reduces inflammation, and restores comfort.

Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are tiny, biocompatible devices inserted into your tear ducts to keep more tears on the surface of your eyes. They’re a great option if your eyes don’t produce enough tears naturally, and they can be temporary or long-lasting.

Bandage Contact Lenses
These soft lenses act like a protective shield for your eye, helping it heal while reducing discomfort. They’re often used when the surface of your eye is damaged or inflamed, offering a soothing environment for faster recovery.

Autologous Serum (Vital Tears) and Compounded Albumin Drop Therapy
These customized eye drops are made from your own blood or specialized proteins and are designed to closely mimic natural tears. They contain important healing factors and are especially effective for patients with severe dry eye or ocular surface disease.

Holman Omega-3 Testing
This simple test measures the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in your body, which play a key role in tear production and eye health. If your levels are low, we can recommend nutritional changes or supplements to help improve your symptoms.

Lacrifill Hyaluronic Acid Canalicular Gel
Lacrifill is a gel that is gently placed into your tear drainage canal to help retain your natural tears longer. It’s made of hyaluronic acid, a substance your body already produces, and can provide months of dry eye relief with just one treatment.

CAM 360 Cryopreserved AmnioGraft
This is a powerful, healing tissue graft placed on the surface of your eye to reduce inflammation and promote regeneration. It’s used for more severe cases of dry eye or corneal damage and helps restore the health of your eye’s surface.

 

Dry Eye Diagnostics

Tear Film Analysis
This test uses high-tech imaging to assess the quality and stability of your tears. It helps us understand what’s causing your dry eye symptoms and tailor a treatment plan just for you.

Tear Break Up Time (TBUT)
TBUT measures how long your tear film stays intact before it starts to break up. A short break-up time means your eyes are drying out too quickly, which helps us diagnose and treat your dry eye more effectively.

Blink Rate
Your blink rate is how often you blink per minute. Blinking helps spread tears across your eyes, and a low blink rate—often from screen use—can lead to dry eye. We assess your blink habits as part of your dry eye evaluation.

Tear Meniscus Height
This measurement tells us how much tear volume is sitting along your lower eyelid. If it’s too low, it suggests you may not be producing enough tears, helping us identify the type of dry eye you have.

Meibography (Infrared Gland Imaging)
This imaging technique lets us see the structure of your meibomian glands under infrared light. It helps detect early signs of gland loss or dysfunction, even before symptoms appear.

External Ocular Photography w/ Vital Dyes, and Schirmer Tear Test
We use special dyes and photography to highlight areas of dryness or damage on your eye’s surface. The Schirmer test measures how much tears your eyes produce over a few minutes. These tools help us get a complete picture of your tear function and eye health.


You don’t have to suffer from the symptoms of dry eye. Talk to your optometrist about dry eye treatment options designed to address the underlying cause of your condition.