What is Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease (DED) is a common condition where the eyes do not produce sufficient tears, or the tears produced are of poor quality. This can lead to discomfort, a gritty sensation, and vision problems.
Common Symptoms of dry eye usually affect both eyes and can vary, but generally include:
- A stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in the eyes.
- A feeling of having something in the eyes (foreign body sensation).
- Red eyes or eye fatigue.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Blurry vision, which may improve after blinking.
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably or driving at night.
Watery eyes (a “reflex tearing” response to the irritation and dryness). - Stringy mucus in or around the eyes.
Primary Causes and Risk Factors
Dry eye can be caused by various factors, including:
Age: Tear production naturally decreases as you age, especially after age 50.
Hormonal Changes: Common in women, especially due to menopause, pregnancy, or birth control pills.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to wind, smoke, dry air (from air conditioning or heaters), high altitudes, or air pollution can worsen symptoms.
Medications: Certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and some blood pressure medications (beta-blockers), can reduce tear production.
Lifestyle: Prolonged use of digital screens (computers, phones, tablets) leads to less frequent blinking, causing tears to evaporate faster.
Medical Conditions: Autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), diabetes, and thyroid disorders are associated with DED.
Contact Lens Use: Wearing contact lenses can disrupt the tear film.
Eye Surgery: Laser eye surgery (like LASIK) can temporarily cause dry eyes.
Dry eye disease occurs when there is an issue with any one of the three components of your tears.
Your tears are made up of 3 distinct layers, all of which work together to keep your eyes healthy:
- The oily layer prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly
- The watery layer delivers nutrients to your eyes
- The mucus layer keeps your tear film stuck to the surface of your eyes
There are two types of dry eye disease.
Evaporative Dry Eye (EDE) – EDE is the most common type of dry eye disease. This type of dry eye occurs when you lack the proper amount of oil in your tears. When this happens, your tears can evaporate too quickly, drying out your eyes. In some cases, EDE can be caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, a disorder where the meibomian glands in your eyes become blocked, limiting the amount of oil being produced for your tears.
Aqueous Tear Deficiency (ATD) – If you suffer from ATD, your eyes lack the aqueous layer in your tears. This means that your eyes aren’t producing enough tears to keep the eye moist, which can lead to irritating and uncomfortable symptoms.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease?
If you are suffering from dry eye disease, you may notice any of the following symptoms:
- A burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Irritated or overly-watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light or photophobia
- Eye redness, blurred vision, or eye fatigue
- A sensation of having something in your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis: An eye doctor performs a comprehensive eye exam, assesses your symptoms, and may use tests to measure the volume and quality of your tears and evaluate the health of your eye’s surface.
Treatment Options:
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity:
Over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears: Lubricating eye drops for mild cases. Preservative-free drops are recommended for frequent use.
Prescription medications: Eye drops to reduce inflammation or stimulate tear production (e.g., Restasis, Xiidra).
Lifestyle changes: Taking regular screen breaks (using the 20-20-20 rule), using a humidifier, staying hydrated, and wearing wraparound sunglasses outdoors.
Punctal plugs: Tiny, temporary or permanent devices inserted into tear ducts to slow tear drainage.
In-office procedures: Treatments like LipiFlow to unclog blocked oil glands.
Can Dry Eye Be Cured?
Dry eye disease is often a chronic, manageable condition rather than one that can be permanently cured. With appropriate treatment and lifestyle adjustments, symptoms can be significantly reduced, improving comfort and preventing complications like corneal damage or infection.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with our eye doctors. With an in-depth eye exam, our doctors can assess your vision and eye health to provide you with the necessary treatment.
With treatments like LipiFlow and OptiLight along with lubricating eyedrops, we can help manage your dry eye symptoms and get you back to seeing clearly and comfortably.
What Is LipiFlow?
Best-In-Class Treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome
Specifically Designed to Remove Blockages from Meibomian Glands and improve Dry Eyes
For patients with mild, moderate, or severe dry eyes who are without relief, The LipiFlow Dry Eye Treatment is available at LaserVue Eye Center. Up until now, dry eye syndrome has typically been treated with prescription eye drops or artificial tears, warm compresses, punctal plugs, meibomian gland expression, dietary supplements, dry eye treatments span the spectrum. LipiFlow represents an effective, safe, and drug-free approach to finding relief from dry eye.
LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System burst on the dry eye scene just a few short years ago and has quickly taken center stage in the treatment of the most common forms of dry eye. The eye specialists at LaserVue Eye Center heartily recommend LipiFlow for many patients who are dealing with dry eye. Why? Because for so many patients, it works where other treatments have failed.
The new LipiFlow treatment is designed to treat the root cause of many Dry Eye symptoms: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). MGD causes blockages in the meibomian glands which prevents them from secreting enough oil, this oil is what prevents the surface of your eye from drying out.
LipiFlow works by implementing the precise application of heat and massage to both the outer and inner eyelids. This application has proved to be an extremely effective process for clearing blockages found in the Meibomian glands. Best of all, the LipiFlow treatment can be performed during a single office visit in as little as 12 minutes.
Treating the leading cause of Dry Eye: MGD (Meibomian Gland Dysfunction)
For many suffering from Dry Eye, the underlying cause of eye discomfort is not due to a tear deficiency but instead, a larger problem found within the glands of the eyelids. Meibomian glands are tiny glands found in our eyelids and they are responsible for the production of the protective oily (lipid) layer of the eye’s tear film that both defends the eye from disease and prevents tear evaporation while your eyes are open. The tear film consists of three layers on the surface of the eye and provides comfort from everyday irritants. When this outer film is compromised, the surface of the eye may be easily irritated. Causing the dry, scratchy, and uncomfortable sensations associated with Dry Eye. MGD is the root cause for the majority of people experiencing Dry Eye.
MGD occurs when the Meibomian glands become blocked or damaged. Without these oils, the eyes become more vulnerable to the adverse effects of our daily habits or environments. Dry climates, heating & air conditioning, reading & television, and other lifestyle or environmental factors can impact the long-term health of our eyes.
LipiFlow is Fast Becoming the Standard-of-Care
for MGD
Why LipiFlow?
LipiFlow is the first FDA-approved medical device designed specifically to treat the root cause of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). It addresses evaporative dry eye by unblocking the meibomian glands that secrete oily lipids.
Why is LipiFlow Effective?
LipiFlow versus eye drops.
Eye drops are often wasted. Think about it. When you put in eye drops, you might notice that most of the contents run down your cheek – even if your aim was spot on. This means your eye is only receiving half (or less!) of the drops contained in the bottle. A waste of medicine and money!
LipiFlow is all natural.
Remember, the goal of LipiFlow is to address the root of your dry eye symptoms, not just treat the symptoms. Restoring function back to your glands can restore the natural balance and proper biological makeup of your tears so they can function as they should. As opposed to drops, which contain chemicals to clear blockage and lubricate, LipiFlow employs gentled heated pulsations to unblock and clear the meibomian glands, so your eyes can produce more of their own perfectly balanced tears.
LipiFlow is a longterm solution for Dry Eye. Presently, there is no permanent cure for dry eye or MGD. However, LipiFlow is a viable, long-term solution. Several clinical studies (31 peer-reviewed articles) demonstrate LipiFlow’s safety and effectiveness.
Safety
We are deeply devoted to your safety. Our experienced doctors and staff work with you personally to ensure you are a candidate for LipiFlow dry eye treatment.
To read more about LaserVue’s safety standards, see our safety information.
Advanced Technology
LipiFlow is supported by 37 patents and used around the world by leading eye care professionals.
Experienced Surgeons
Our Board-Certified Ophthalmologists and Optometrists have performed tens of thousands of procedures.
Proven Results
LipiFlow is supported by 37 patents and used around the world by leading eye care professionals.
OptiLight IPL by Lumenis
Available at our Santa Rosa Location
What Is OptiLight?
OptiLight is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment done to manage dry eye disease. This non-invasive procedure is the first and only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye management.
OptiLight uses pulses of light precisely administered in the area below the eyes to reduce dry eye symptoms. This 10-15 minute procedure can relieve dry eye symptoms by:
- Increasing tear break-up time
- Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria around your eyes
- Decreasing inflammation inflammation
- Improving meibomian gland functionality
What to Expect
If your eye doctor has recommended the OptiLight treatment, they will go over everything you can expect before, during, and after your appointment.
Preparing for Your Appointment
- To prepare for your appointment you should avoid:
- Using skin brightening agents or serums for the week before your appointment
- Using tanning beds 1 month before your appointment
- Getting neuromodulators (anti-wrinkle injectables) for at least 3 months before your appointment
- Taking oral acne medication in the 3 months before your appointment
The OptiLight Treatment
This treatment is fast and simple, taking only 10–15 minutes. During your treatment your doctor will apply a cool gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields to protect them. As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm or a tapping sensation, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Post-Procedure Care
While side effects are uncommon, your eyes may feel slightly more dry or gritty for the day following your procedure. If you do experience dry eyes, you can use preservative-free artificial tears. Following your treatment, your skin will be sensitive, so we recommend avoiding sun exposure and wearing sunscreen.
Am I a Good Candidate for OptiLight?
How do you know if OptiLight is the right treatment for you? During an eye exam, your doctor can determine whether or not it is the right option for you.
In general, OptiLight isn’t recommended for patients who:
- Are taking certain oral acne medications
- Have active acne
- Suffer from certain skin disorders
- Are susceptible to keloid scarring
- Have severe scarring
- Have severely sunburned recently
Find Dry Eye Relief Today
You don’t have to live with the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye disease. With OptiLight, your symptoms can be managed effectively and efficiently, restoring your quality of life. Our team is always here to help you find relief from dry eyes. Schedule an appointment today to see how OptiLight can help you!
LASIK FAQs:
Everything You Need to Know About Laser Eye Surgery
What is OptiLIGHT?
OptiLIGHT is a light-based treatment that uses precise, intense broad spectrum light to address signs of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD is the most common cause of dry eye disease, accounting for about 86% of cases8. The treatment addresses inflammation, which is one of the key underlying factors in MGD. OptiLIGHT was specifically developed to reach the delicate contours of the treated area safely, effectively, and gently using the OPT™ technology. It is intended for use in patients who are at least 22 years old, together with other available treatments, such as Meibomian gland expression, artificial tear lubricants, and warm compresses.
How long does it take to perform a procedure with OptiLIGHT?
Each treatment takes about 15 minutes, so you can easily integrate OptiLIGHT into the workflow. Patients achieve results in just 4 comfortable OptiLIGHT treatments.
What is OPT™ technology?
Lumenis’ patented technology OPT™ (Optimal Pulse Technology) transforms the use of light and allows targeted, uniform, precise, and controlled treatment. Specifically designed for the delicate area below the eye, OPT™ safely and effectively breaks the vicious cycle of inflammation associated with dry eye.
Is Lumenis light therapy FDA approved?
Lumenis light therapy is the first and only IPL FDA approved for Dry Eye management due to Meibomian Glands Dysfunction (MGD).
Is there any downtime after a procedure with OptiLIGHT?
Immediately following treatment, patients may experience some redness. This will usually disappear within a few hours.
What is the wavelength of the OptiLIGHT system?
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Ready to SEE a Change?
Helping you to achieve your personal best vision is our mission at LaserVue Eye Center. Wondering where to start?
Please complete the fields on the right to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options with our eye doctors! You can also Call 1-800-527-3745 to speak with our staff.
Related Eye Care Services at LaserVue
Dry eye frequently intersects with other vision conditions. LaserVue provides comprehensive care for all aspects of your eye health:
- LASIK Eye Surgery — Dry eye must be managed before LASIK for the best surgical outcomes. Our team ensures you are optimally prepared.
- EVO ICL Implantable Lenses — EVO ICL does not cut corneal nerves, making it an excellent option for patients with pre-existing dry eye who want to eliminate glasses.
- PRK Laser Vision Correction — PRK is often preferable to LASIK for patients with mild-to-moderate dry eye.
- Keratoconus Treatment — Keratoconus and dry eye frequently co-occur; our specialists screen for and address both conditions.
- Cataract Surgery — Dry eye treatment before and after cataract surgery improves visual outcomes and patient comfort.
LaserVue Eye Center treats dry eye and provides all vision correction services at our San Francisco and Santa Rosa locations. Schedule your consultation today.