Dry Eye
Dry eyes can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, from redness and itchiness to blurred vision. Frequent dry eyes can signal dry eye syndrome, a complex disease that affects more than 16 million people in the United
Trusted Source
Prevalence of Diagnosed Dry Eye Disease in the United States Among Adults Aged 18 Years and Older
Farrand KF, Fridman M, Stillman IÖ, Schaumberg DA
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States.
While dry eyes are common, it is important to see an experienced ophthalmologist for treatment that will relieve symptoms and prevent dry eye complications.
The eye doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants are committed to helping patients in the Hampton Roads area find relief from dry eye symptoms. Our dry eye specialists utilize advanced techniques to diagnose and treat patients with dry eye disease.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
When the human eye is functioning properly, it keeps the surface of the eye well lubricated. Everyone may experience occasional dry eyes as the result of an arid climate, having a fan near your face, or seasonal allergies. However, if your eyes are not producing enough lubricating tears, then you may have frequent dry eye symptoms which are classified as dry eye syndrome or dry eye disease. Chronic dry eyes are uncomfortable and can interfere with everyday tasks and overall quality of life. If dry eye syndrome is misdiagnosed or left untreated, it can lead to more serious eye diseases.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye syndrome can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Burning or stinging
- Stringy mucus or discharge
- Sensitivity to light
- Irritation and the feeling that there is something in your eye
- Watery eyes (this may seem counterintuitive, but your lacrimal glands can respond to dryness by overproducing tears)
If you are suffering with dry eye symptoms, our experienced dry eye doctors can help. We offer a variety of treatment options and we can develop a personalized treatment plan for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment in Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, or Virginia Beach.
Dry Eye Causes
While dry eyes can affect anyone of any age, there are factors that can contribute to the development of dry eye syndrome, including:
- The natural aging process
- A windy or dusty environment
- Smoke and other pollutants
- Excessive use of contact lenses
- Arthritis, certain medications, and diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome can also be associated with dry eyes
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
Meibomian gland dysfunction is often attributed as the cause of dry eye disease. These glands are responsible for producing the outer layer of lipids (oil) on the tear film. The lipid layer is what can stop the tears from evaporating too soon. If the meibomian glands are not functioning properly, they can become inflamed and infiltrated with bacteria. These effects can ultimately lead to redness, pain and discomfort in the eyes, swollen eyelids, and vision blurriness.
How is Dry Eye diagnosed?
Often, our eye doctors are able to diagnose dry eyes by simply examining the eyes. Sometimes tests to measure tear production are necessary. Sometimes, additional tests are needed to also measure tear film, tear osmolarity and tear quality. The dry eye doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants can quickly and painlessly measure a small sample of your tears to better understand the root cause of your dry eye symptoms and develop the best means of treatment for you.
Another diagnostic tool that our dry eye specialists use to determine if a patient has dry eye disease is the LipiScan Dynamic Meibomian Imager. This innovative device is a meibomian gland imager that delivers high-definition images of meibomian gland structure. LipiScan allows your eye doctor to quickly and accurately assess the health of your meibomian glands.
Take the Dry Eye Self Evaluation Quiz
Understanding Dry Eye symptoms is the first step toward relief. Take our quick Dry Eye Quiz to assess your condition and one of our Dry Eye Specialists will be in touch to discuss treatment options that can help you see and feel better. Don’t let dry eyes affect your daily life—take the quiz now!
Dry Eye Treatment
At-Home Dry Eye Care
Things that you can do to manage dry eye symptoms at home include:
- Limit screen time and take frequent short breaks when working on the computer
- Use a humidifier
- Use over-the-counter artificial tears
- Use a moist heat eye compress
Prescription Treatments for Dry Eye
If your dry eyes do not respond to home treatments or changes in lifestyle, your eye doctor may recommend prescription eye drops.
In-Office Dry Eye Treatments
For severe or chronic dry eye, there are several in-office treatments that can be performed at one of our offices in Hampton Roads. These treatments are designed to treat the underlying cause of dry eye syndrome for long-lasting relief.
- LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System
- iLux®
- TearCare®
- Blepharitis Lid Treatment with BlephEx™
- MiBo Thermoflo®
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy for Dry Eye
- Rinsada™
LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System
The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System reduces the need for artificial tears and other prescription dry eye treatments by attending to the cause of evaporative dry eye symptoms, the meibomian glands themselves.
iLux®
Unlike at-home warm compresses that need to be applied daily to provide any true relief from dry eye symptoms caused by meibomian gland blockages, treatment with the FDA-approved iLux device can clear clogged meibomian glands in as little as one 15-minute session. When positioned over the eyelids, the iLux device delivers constant therapeutic heat and mild pressure to soften buildup within the meibomian glands. Most patients find treatment comfortable and even relaxing, and it is followed by a gentle massage to express excess oil and debris from the meibomian glands. iLux treatment offers immediate relief and absolutely no recovery time, and dry eye symptoms will continue to improve in the weeks following treatment.
TearCare®
TearCare is a revolutionary dry eye treatment that works to unblock clogged meibomian glands during a single comfortable session. Patients simply relax in our office while wearing the TearCare device, which allows them to keep their eyes open and blink naturally as therapeutic heat is constantly applied to the meibomian glands. After roughly 15 minutes with the TearCare device, the physician gently massages the eyelids to clear away blockages and removes debris from the eye.
Treatment with TearCare provides immediate and lasting relief from uncomfortable dry eye symptoms. In fact, clinical research shows that only 12 minutes of treatment with the TearCare device provides more relief than weeks or months of warm
Trusted Source
A novel system, TearCare®, for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
PMC5903489 Badawi D
Go to Source
compresses.
Blepharitis Lid Treatment with BlephEx™
Many patients with dry eye have blepharitis. This is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the eyelids caused by an overgrowth of normal bacteria along the base of the eyelashes. This overgrowth produces a film that traps debris along the eyelashes and harbors bacterial exotoxins along the eyelids, causing inflammation that affects the tear glands, slowing down tear production. With fewer tears, more bacteria accumulate, leading to chronic irritation and dry eye. This condition, left untreated, can lead to significant damage to the eyelids and tear glands.
At Virginia Eye Consultants, we offer BlephEx, the first clinical treatment available for blepharitis. Previously, patients with this condition relied on home eyelid scrubs that were not always effective. BlephEx allows you to relax while our eye care professionals thoroughly clean the eyelid area with this specialized device that removes debris and bacteria with gentle precision.
MiBo Thermoflo®
MiBo Thermoflo® is a therapeutic device for the treatment of dry eye that uses a thermoelectric heat mechanism to loosen obstructed secretions and improve meibomian gland function to help eliminate the evaporative component of dry eye. The process works with gentle, ocular massage in a comfortable, even relaxing, treatment to create enhanced tear film.
This treatment has been shown to help clear meibomian glands of obstruction and increase lipid health and function. It is a comfortable, effective, convenient and affordable treatment.
Learn More About MiBo Thermoflo
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy for Dry Eye
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy is an innovative treatment for patients suffering from chronic dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This non-invasive procedure uses gentle pulses of light to heat the skin around the eyes, targeting blockages in the meibomian glands. By breaking up hardened oils and improving gland function, IPL helps restore the normal flow of oils needed to keep the eyes properly hydrated. A gentle massage follows the treatment to further stimulate oil production. Studies show that up to
Trusted Source
Combination Therapy of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Meibomian Gland Expression (IPL/MGX) Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms and Meibomian Gland Function in Patients With Refractory Dry Eye: A Retrospective Analysis
Vegunta S, Patel D, Shen JF
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89%
of patients with MGD experience a significant reduction in dry eye symptoms after IPL therapy.
Rinsada™
Rinsada is a gentle yet powerful treatment for dry eyes. It works by thoroughly rinsing the surface of the eyes to remove irritants like allergens and debris that can cause discomfort. Using a special device, Rinsada helps to clean under the eyelids, providing long-lasting relief for people with dry eye disease. Many patients feel immediate improvement after the treatment, with over 70% noticing reduced irritation and
Trusted Source
UTILITY OF A NOVEL EYELID RETRACTOR AND IRRIGATION INSTRUMENT IN MINIMIZING PATIENT-REPORTED DISCOMFORT AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTION
Bloom WR, Kondapalli SSA
Go to Source
inflammation.
Meet Our Doctors
Contact Virginia Eye Consultants
We invite you to call and learn more about dry eye treatments and procedures. Contact us now to schedule your consultation with one of our dry eye doctors and learn about your options to treat dry eye.
1 Farrand KF, Fridman M, Stillman IÖ, Schaumberg DA. Prevalence of Diagnosed Dry Eye Disease in the United States Among Adults Aged 18 Years and Older. Am J Ophthalmol. 2017 Oct;182:90-98. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2017.06.033. Epub 2017 Jul 10. PMID: 28705660. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28705660/. Accessed September 16, 2024.
2 Badawi D. A novel system, TearCare®, for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018;12:683-694. Published 2018 Apr 10. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S160403. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5903489/. Accessed February 9, 2021.
3 Vegunta S, Patel D, Shen JF. Combination Therapy of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Meibomian Gland Expression (IPL/MGX) Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms and Meibomian Gland Function in Patients With Refractory Dry Eye: A Retrospective Analysis. Cornea. 2016 Mar;35(3):318-22. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000735. PMID: 26785301. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26785301/. Accessed September 12, 2024.
4 Bloom WR, Kondapalli SSA. UTILITY OF A NOVEL EYELID RETRACTOR AND IRRIGATION INSTRUMENT IN MINIMIZING PATIENT-REPORTED DISCOMFORT AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTION. Retina. 2023 Sep 1;43(9):1633-1635. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003124. PMID: 33492080. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33492080/. Accessed September 12, 2024.
The doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants have either authored or reviewed the content on this site.