Dry Eye Therapy in Maple Ridge

Evaporative dry eye disease occurs when the oily layer in your tear film is out of balance. This oily substance spreads across your eye’s surface each time you blink, preventing your tears from evaporating too quickly. If your tear film lacks oil, your tears dry out faster, leaving you with dry eyes. 

The common causes of evaporative dry eye disease include: 

• Meibomian gland dysfunction 
• Infrequent blinking 
• Eyelid problems like ectropion & entropion 
• Eye allergies
• Preservatives in eye drops
• Wind, smoke, & dry air

Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough water in the tear film. Without enough water to produce tears, your eyes become dry and uncomfortable. While age is a common reason for decreased tear production, other causes include: 

• Medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, & scleroderma
• Medications like antihistamines, decongestants, & antidepressants
• Desensitized corneal nerves

Heat masks can help reduce dry eye symptoms by improving hydration, increasing oil production, and reducing inflammation. These masks provide heat to the eyelids, helping release clogged oil in the meibomian glands, a common cause of dry eyes. Additionally, the heat provided by these masks can provide comfort by easing inflammation.

Prescription eye drops help address the specific factors causing your dry eyes. Products like Restasis stimulate the production of tears for patients with chronic dry eyes. Another prescription medication is Xiidra, which targets the source of the inflammation that can cause your dry eyes. 

Preservative-free artificial tears simulate real tears, providing temporary moisture for your eyes. These eye drops are available without a prescription and can help protect your tears from evaporating too quickly. You should talk to your eye doctor before using storebought eye drops because some can negatively affect your eye health

If necessary, we are more than willing to write you a referral for intense pulsed light (IPL) or radio frequency (RF) treatment. These treatments can address meibomian gland dysfunction and ease dry eye symptoms. 

IPL utilizes pulses of light to treat meibomian gland dysfunction. Typically, several treatment sessions are required to achieve optimal results. IPL is an ideal option if other dry eye treatments have not been successful. 

RF treatment for dry eyes involves using energy waves to heat your eyelids and remove blockages in the meibomian glands. After treating your meibomian glands, your treatment provider may massage these glands to express trapped oil.