Dry Eye Treatment

Significant advances have occurred in our understanding of dry eye and ocular surface disease. Dry eye symptoms can range from mildly annoying to completely disruptive and life-altering. Dry eye disease can present itself in a variety of symptoms, such as: blurred and fluctuating vision, redness, foreign body sensation, watering, sandy-gritty feeling, itching, burning, irritation, pain and light sensitivity.

If you are suffering from dry eye disease, Dr. Weaver may recommend any of the following dry eye treatment options:

Meibomian Gland Expression

Meibomian glands are glands that release oil as a part of your natural tears. Many times, dry eye symptoms being because these oil glands that run along the upper and lower eyelids become stagnant. When the oil glands become stagnant, and oil is not getting released into your natural tears, your tears evaporate quickly and your eyelids become inflamed. Artificial tears typically offer only temporary relief. Meibomian gland expression involves heating your eyelids to soften the stagnant oil glands and then the glands are massaged to release the stagnant oil in an attempt to revitalize the oil glands to produce better oil for your natural tears.

Eyelash debris BEFORE NuLids Pro treatment

Punctal Plugs

Dry eye symptoms can also be alleviated by placing dissolvable collagen plugs into the lower drainage ducts of each lower eyelid. The collagen plugs dissolve over a period of 90 days. This temporarily blocks the drainage ducts to maintain more moisture on your eyes, reducing dry eye symptoms.

Blepharoexfoliation

The eyelashes and eyelid margin can become inundated with Demodex mites, which can cause crusty debris along the eyelids. This contributes to blepharitis and inflammation, which causes dry eye. Using a device called NuLids Pro, the upper and lower eyelids are mechanically massaged to remove the debris causing this inflammation. Just as you use a toothbrush to brush debris from your teeth, the NuLids Pro brush debris from your eyelids, creating a healthier environment to improve dry eye symptoms.

Supplements and Medications

Sometimes, additional medical treatment is necessary to reduce inflammation of the eyes and eyelids. Cyclosporine eye drops, such as Restasis, Cequa and Xiidra are helpful in eliminating inflammation related to dry eye. Dr. Weaver may also recommend steroid eye drops and high-quality Omega-3 and Omega-6 supplements to treat dry eye symptoms.

At Weaver Eye Care Associates, Dr. Weaver will carefully assess your dry eye condition and come up with a personalized treatment plan just for you to get you on the right path of clear, comfortable, and stable vision.

If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a dry eye consultation, please call us at 610-488-5315.