Treatment for dry eyes

with Eye Centre - Primecare

What is the function of your tears?

Tears are the moisture layer that covers your eyes. They protect your eyes against microbial, allergic and traumatic aggression, and help to preserve your vision. They are essential for both comfort and health..

Your tears are composed of three layers which protect your eyes:

1.A superficial thin oily layer which is composed of lipids produced by Meibomian glands (located along the edge of the eyelids). These lipids delay the evaporation of tears. They behave like a thin oily layer on water: oil prevents water evaporation.

2.A middle thick aqueous layer which is composed of water produced mainly by lacrimal glands that are situated in the upper eyelids. This layer carries essential nutriments and oxygen to the cornea.

3.An innermost mucous layer that helps the film to both adhere to the eye and assure its correct distribution.

Meibomian Glands

Healthy Meibomian glands secrete oil with each blink of your eyes to keep your tears, and with them your eyes, from drying out. If these glands stop working properly, your eyes will dry out very quickly, and can become red, painful and inflamed.

Common symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) include:

•Dry eyes

•Red, inflamed and burning eyes

•Itchy eyes and eye lids

•Sticky eyes with mucous secretions, sometimes eyelids may be stuck together.

•Excessive eye watering

•Eyes that are sensitive to light

•The feeling that there is something in your eye, even if nothing is there.

•Frequent or recurring Styes I Chalazions

•Blurry vision that comes and goes

Because many of these symptoms are the same as other common eye diseases, an examination of your eyelids and meibomian glands, by a qualified Optometrist/Ophthalmologist is necessary to determine if you suffer from MGD.

Treatment

In the past, treatments have included artificial tears, eyelid warming, eyelid massage, lid margin cleaning, Blephasteam – hot moist goggles.

Now added to available treatments is Intense Pulse Light Therapy, IPL.

The IPL machine uses sequenced light pulses to stimulate the meibomian glands to return to normal function.

We recommend this treatment as the best solution available for dry eyes. The procedure is cumulative, so for maximum results 3-4 treatments are necessary.

The treatment itself is straight forward, your eyes are covered with goggles and protective gel is applied around your eyes. The treatment is on your cheeks close around your eyes. You will notice a warm sensation and bright light and a feeling like a rubber band being flicked on your skin. You can resume normal activities immediately after the treatment - making IPL a quick and painless solution to your dry eye discomfort.

The IPL treatment will be available at the Eye Centre Primecare in 2017. Please phone us to arrange an appointment to discuss whether IPL can work for you.