Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is incredibly common among Albertans, with nearly 90% of Albertans reporting symptoms of dry eyes. Dry eyes tend to affect people all year long, although many people find their symptoms get worse in winter as the Calgary air becomes very dry. Dry eyes can limit a person’s ability to do everyday tasks, such as wear contacts, wear makeup, see properly, and live comfortably. If you suffer from dry eyes, take the dry eye quiz and visit the My Optometrist Dry Eye Clinic to receive testing and treatment. Here is a more in-depth look at what DES is and how the Dry Eye Clinic can address your symptoms and offer personalized treatment.
DES And The Dry Eye Clinic
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Your eyes always have a tear film on them to keep them adequately lubricated. If this tear film evaporates or is not properly produced, your eyes will feel dry. While sometimes this only causes mild irritation or the sensation of grit under the eyelid, when a person is diagnosed with Dry Eye Syndrome, symptoms are often more severe. Common DES symptoms include:
- Stinging sensation in the eyes
- Burning sensation in the eyes
- Scratchy eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- Eye fatigue
- Watery eyes
- Eye redness
- Potential damage to the cornea over time
Dry Eye Syndrome is a condition where the eyes do not adequately produce tears. This can be because the tears produced are of poor quality and do not have the correct ratio of components or because not enough tears are produced. If the quality of tears being produced is not adequate, often the tears do not contain enough lubricating oils. This leads to tears that evaporate too quickly and it can be caused by a block of oils within the meibomian glands at the edge of the eyelids. If the eye is not producing enough tears, this can be caused by a lack of aqueous fluid, which is the water-like fluid (similar to plasma) that is produced in the eye.
How Can The Dry Eye Clinic Help Treat Dry Eyes?
The Dry Eye Clinic will first diagnose your condition to determine how best to treat your DES. This exam will require you to fill out several questionnaires that address your eye dryness, your personal eye health history, and your history of medications and other health conditions. You will also receive a lid seal and physical assessment as well as an imaging and analysis of meibomian gland structure and function. The questionnaires and assessments will help to determine the severity of your DES as well as the potential cause. Your optometrist will use this information to determine if your eyes are not producing enough tears or if the tears produced are not good quality so that you can begin receiving customized treatment. Some forms of treatment you may receive include:
- Inmode Lumecca Intense Pulsed Light (ILP) Treatment. This advanced dry eye technology reduces the inflammation of abnormal blood vessels within the eyelid and reduces bacterial growth in the area around the eye. This painless treatment uses intense flashes of light to break up oils and other debris that may be blocking the meibomian glands.
- Inmode Forma Radiofrequency (RF) treatment. This advanced dry eye technology clears the meibomian glands of oil blockages by delivering uniform heating through safely distributed electrical currents.
- Recommendation Of Dry Eye Products. There are a variety of dry eye relief products that can be used to help rehydrate the eyes and help the eyes keep their moisture for longer, such as lubricating eye drops, eye gels, eye relief masks, and more. Shop all dry eye relief products here.
- Prescription Eye Drops. Some forms of eye drops, such as steroid eye drops, will require a prescription from an optometrist. These will be specially formulated for DES symptom relief.
- A Combination Of Treatments. Your optometrist may recommend several forms of dry eye treatment to complement one another and offer the best results.
Visit The Dry Eye Clinic At My Optometrist
My Optometrist offers a Dry Eye Clinic specifically designed to address and treat Dry Eye Syndrome. Our Dry Eye Clinic offers highly advanced dry eye treatment and optometrists who are experienced working with patients with a variety of dry eye symptoms. At My Optometrist in Calgary and Three Hills, we will work with you to create a comprehensive and individualized dry eye treatment plan using all available resources. To book an appointment with the My Optometrist Dry Eye Clinic, contact My Optometrist at one of our three locations at Health First in SE Calgary, Sunridge in NE Calgary, or Three Hills, AB. You can also call us or fill out the online contact form.
FAQ
Q: What should I do if I think I have DES?
A: Book an appointment with the team at My Optometrist at any of our Calgary or Three Hills locations. Our knowledgeable team will help you figure out your diagnosis and what steps to take next.
Q: Is there a cure for DES?
A: There is not, but there are ways to mitigate the symptoms. Other than the list above, there are options offered by the eye doctors at My Optometrist Calgary, such as BlephEx®, punctal plugs, and more. Talk to our optometrists for more information.
Q: I thought IPL was used for the cosmetic reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, is IPL for dry eyes the same as IPL for wrinkles reduction?
A: Yes it is. IPL was first used to address fine lines and wrinkles but it has now also been discovered to be beneficial for the reduction of dry eye symptoms. Learn more about how IPL works by reading How IPL Can Treat Your Dry Eyes And Address Fine Lines and Wrinkles.