The Dry Eye Clinic
Dry eye care should be more than eyedrops and hot compresses! At Grand River Optometry we have a special interest in helping you get relief from your symptoms. We have incorporated help into every aspect of our practice. Our routine exams now include advanced evaluation of your tear system. And when your symptoms are more severe we offer focussed Dry Eye evaluations.
3 in 10
Canadians experience symptoms of dry eye
85%
Of dry eye is related to insufficient oil (called meibum)
93%
Post-treatment satisfaction with IPL
300%
Increase in gland function with ILUX expression
How Do I Know If I Have Dry Eye?
Almost every day we encounter patients who tell us that their eyes are not dry - they water. In fact watering is one of the most common symptoms of dry eye. When your body doesn’t create a quality tear the corneal surface becomes irritated and the eye produces excess tears.
But tearing isn’t the only symptom. Other common symptoms include
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Burning
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Stinging
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Gritty sensation
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Itching
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Dryness
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Tearing
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Redness
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Tired eyes
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Blurred vision
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Fluctuating vision
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Soreness
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Swollen lids
If you have any of these symptoms you may have Dry Eye.
Dry Eye can occur at any age and may appear on it own or be associated with one of these factors - blepharitis, systemic medications, sjogrens syndrome, arthritis, contact lens wear, digital eye strain, etc.
How is it diagnosed?
There are two keys to diagnosing dry eye - a careful history (asking questions and listening the answers) and a thorough examination (advanced imaging). Our Dry Eye evaluation includes imaging that evaluates both the quantity and quality of your tears.
With this information we can determine if dry eye is a result of poor tear volume, inflammation or poor meibum (the oil that lubricates your eye).
The symptoms of dry eye are similar to those of other eye conditions such as allergies or abnormalities of the eyelids. It is important to get the right diagnosis!
So What Can I Do?
Thankfully there is a lot that can be done. Medicine has invested a lot of research into this nearly ubiquitous disease and serious help has arrived.
When dryness manifests with more severe symptoms we now have access to effective prescription medications and revolutionary in office treatments. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) therapy has become the gold standard for meibomian gland dysfunction and helps in four unique ways (click here for more details). Gland expression with ILux heat treatment clears out blocked glands allowing fresh oil to flow.
If your dry eye is fairly mild there are now a great variety of eyedrops, supplements and at home treatments that can provide relief. Eyedrops have evolved from little more than saline to advanced lubricants with healing properties.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about available options.
Get in touch
We are here to help. If you have any questions give us a call or schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation and we will help put together a plan to help your eyes