Dry Eye Therapy

See the World with Comfort

Sight is something we cherish. And while visual clarity is an important part of enjoying your vision, so is your eye comfort.

One of the most common issues affecting eye comfort is dry eye, a condition that affects the quality and quantity of tears your eyes produce. Without these tears, you can experience an array of symptoms and, in serious cases, risk causing injury to your eyes.

We’re here to help. Through soothing techniques and personalized strategies, Chatham EyeCare is ready to bring you the support you need to enjoy comfortable, hydrated vision. You can start today by requesting an appointment.Get help from Chatham EyeCare!

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What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a condition that develops when your eyes do not produce enough tears or enough quality tears. This can lead to discomfort, blurred vision, and potentially damage to the surface of the eyes if left untreated.

This condition typically affects adults, but your risk of developing it can depend on your eye care needs, your eye health, and even your environment.

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Dry Eye Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

Burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
Redness
Watery eyes
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light

Dry Eye Risk Factors

Common risk factors include:

Aging
Hormonal changes
Certain medications
Long-term use of contact lenses
Environmental factors such as dry air or wind

Understanding Your Tear Film & What Affects It

Our eyes are protected and nourished by a layer of moisture known as the tear film. This film is crucial for maintaining eye health and clear vision. When the tear film is disrupted, it can lead to dry eye symptoms.

The tear film is made up of 3 layers:

The mucus layer, which adheres and spreads your tears evenly across your eyes.
The water layer, which hydrates your eyes and washes away bacteria and debris.
The oil layer, which prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly.

The type of dry eye you develop will depend on how it affects your tear film.

Evaporative Dry Eye

Evaporative dry eye is responsible for 85% of dry eye cases, and it occurs when there is not enough oil content in your tear film to prevent it from evaporating.

These oils are produced by your meibomian glands, which are located at the edges of your eyelids. If these glands become blocked or inflamed, it can affect the production of these oils and lead to dry eye symptoms.

Common conditions associated with evaporative dry eye include:

Meibomian gland dysfunction

Blepharitis

Demodex mites

Rosacea

Vitamin A deficiency

Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye

Aqueous-deficient dry eye occurs when there is not enough water in your tears to hydrate and comfort your eyes.

This water content is produced by your lacrimal glands, located just above your eyes. Though this is not the most common cause of dry eye, you may have a higher risk of developing it if you have Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition that affects how your body produces fluids.

Other risk factors for aqueous tear deficiency include:

Lupus

Rheumatoid arthritis

Antihistamine medications

Hormone replacement therapy

Eye injury complications

Comforting Your Eyes

To complement our IPL treatment, we’re proud to offer additional strategies to help maintain your eye comfort.

Some of these techniques may be performed in-office, or we can recommend products that you can use at home.

Blephadex

Blephadex is a cleansing treatment for blepharitis, a condition associated with inflammation of the eyelids.

These products work by cleaning away bacteria and debris that may lead to blepharitis.

Eye Drops

We offer a range of hydrating eye drops to lubricate your eyes and relieve dry eye symptoms.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are small devices inserted into the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining away too quickly, working to keep your eyes hydrated.

Dry Eye Makeup Products

If you struggle with dry eye, certain makeup products can affect your tear film and lead to dry eye.

We can recommend a range of makeup products specifically designed for people with dry eyes to help you look your best without irritating your eyes.

IPL Therapy for Dry Eye

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is an approach we can offer to help address symptoms of evaporative dry eye, particularly cases caused by meibomian gland dysfunction.

This technology uses light pulses to gently warm up your meibomian glands and melt blockages affecting the flow of oils to your tear film.We may also use IPL therapy to address additional concerns like chalazion, styes, and medical aesthetic issues.

Before Your Appointment

We’ll perform a comprehensive eye exam to assess your dry eye condition and determine if IPL therapy is the right treatment for you.

During Your Appointment

IPL treatment is a gentle, noninvasive procedure. You’ll wear protective eyewear while light pulses are applied to your eyelids to gently warm blockages and promote oil production.

After Your Appointment

After your session, you might feel some tenderness around treated areas, but this should subside within a few hours. In some cases, you may experience immediate relief from your symptoms. However, we may recommend additional sessions based on your needs.

We’ll provide a follow-up plan to help ensure your eyes continue to feel comfortable and hydrated.