Dry Eye Treatment

Dry Eye affects over 300 million people worldwide – and many Calgarians considering our dry weather. Symptoms include increased evaporation of tears, unstable tear film, damage to the eye surface, inflammation and discomfort and a decrease in vision.

If you have dry eyes, rely on drops for temporary relief and believe it may just be sensitive eyes or seasonal allergies, you may actually have Dry Eye. The good news is that we offer Lipiflow and IPL treatment and we can help you decide which option is best for you.

The Meibomian glands in our eyelids normally produce a protective oily layer of the tear film, protect the ocular surface from disease and prevent the watery part of tears from evaporating when our eyes are open. Without these oils, our eyes are more susceptible to dry climates, air conditioning, computer use, reading, and other activities that impact the long-term health of our eyes.

During Lipiflow, a drop of mild anesthetic is administered to your eye(s), followed by a procedure that loosens debris around the edge of the eyelids. LipiFlow activator eye pieces are then gently placed on the eyelids and you’ll begin to feel warmth and gentle pressure. The device has two 6-minute cycles – a warming phase, followed by intermittent pulsations, and then pressure, which removes blockages from the glands. You’ll experience little to no discomfort during treatment and will start to see relief 4 to 6 weeks after treatment.

During IPL treatment, we apply coupling gel to the skin and you may experience a warm sensation as intense pulsed light is applied to the skin. Following treatment, we perform Meibomian gland expression, which accelerates the healing process.

After treatment, you may experience some redness around the treated areas, which usually disappears within a few hours. In most cases, makeup may be applied immediately, and daily activities can be resumed, however you’ll need to stay out of direct sunlight for a few days and apply sunscreen.

Dry eye can be relieved with as few as 3 treatments, which are ideally done every 3 to 4 weeks. Maintenance treatments may be required 6-12 months after.

In most cases of chronic dry eyes, patients may be recommended to use artificial tears on a regular basis to lubricate and moisten the eyes in order to alleviate the symptoms.

When considering the use of artificial tears, it is recommended that you consult your doctor in case you have any allergies. Like all eye drops, when using artificial tears please be sure to avoid letting the tip of the tube or dropper to come in contact with the eye or any other surface. If the eyedropper gets contaminated it may cause further discomfort in the eye or cause an infection.

Artificial tears do not require any prescription. There is not a specific brand of artificial tears that will work for all patients. Plus, depending on your preferences of comfort, you may prefer to use drops of varying thickness. Some patients will prefer to use artificial tears that are more fluid (like water) while other will prefer a thicker (gel-like) viscosity. Preservative-free drops are recommended.

Also known as punctum plugs, lacrimal plugs or occluders, punctal plugs are very tiny devices that are inserted into the eyes tear ducts in order to block drainage. In turn, this increases the eye’s tear film, naturally increasing surface moisture and relieving the discomfort caused by dry eyes.

Your eye doctor will recommend the use of non-dissolvable punctal plugs as treatment for your dry eyes. It is not recommended that you attempt to remove punctal plugs on your own. If you are experiencing any discomfort or are concerned that the plugs are causing problems, please contact your eye doctor to have them safely removed.

Inserting the punctal plugs into the eye’s tear ducts can be done painlessly, usually requiring no more than 2 minutes to complete.