Eye Surgery

Eye Surgery

Dry Eye Disease

Dry Eye can affect your quality vision and quality of life in many levels. Dry eye symptoms include red, irritated eyes, transient vision fluctuation, scratchy and swollen eye lids, and sometimes reflex tearing.

Causes of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease is multifactorial, which means there are many different causative and correlating factors.

     Inflammation: Inflammation in or around the eyes, even in the body can lead to dry eye condition.  Clinical studies suggest as high as 80% of chronic dry eye is due to inflammation, as known as inflammatory dry eye. 

     Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Meibomian glands are embedded in the lid area.  They are responsible for producing the lipid layer of the tear film. Inflammation or atrophy of some or all of the Meibomian glands lead to increased tear evaporation and result in poor quality tears.  

     Demodex: demodex mites feed on the hair follicles and oil glands.  When unregulated, they contribute to lid inflammation, infection and irritation.

     Rosacea: Rosacea is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and oil glands. Ocular rosacea gives the eyes a chronically red appearance.

     Blepharitis: inflamed and infected eye lid margin not only cause dry and irritated eyes, it also is one of more common causes of eye infections. 

     Environmental Factors: climate changes, allergens, smoke, dusts, prolonged digital device usage.

     Medications: Many medications are contributing factors to the severity of dry eye symptoms.  The common ones are anti-histamines, oral contraceptives, antidepressant, anti-hypertension and thyroid medication. 

Treatment of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease can be treated and managed successfully through various methods.  From over the counter PF artificial tears, hot compresses, lids hygiene, topical/oral antibiotic, anti-inflammatory medication, to the latest technological innovation, OPTILIGHT IPL, they provide array of treatment options.  OPTILIGHT IPL is a noninvasive FDA approved procedure.  It has several potential mechanisms of action that address inflammation, erythema, MGD, as well as bacterial and Demodex blepharitis, making it one of the most promising treatments for Dry Eye Disease.