Dry Eyes

If you are suffering from dry eye syndrome it is important to see an eye specialist. They can help you determine the cause and recommend a course of treatment for dry eyes.

With offices throughout NSW and in Canberra, personalEYES can provide effective and personalised treatment for your dry eyes.

About Dry Eyes

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic and often a progressive condition. It is very common and can be caused by a number of different factors. Usually, you can manage your condition successfully and experience noticeably greater comfort, fewer symptoms and even sharper vision.

Symptoms

Depending on the cause and the severity of the dry eyes, there can be a number of symptoms, including:

• Irritation
• Redness
• Fatigue
• Excessive tearing

These symptoms can both affect your vision and your mood. Constant irritation and fatigue in your eyes can also be dangerous and interrupt daily activities like reading or driving a car.

What are the types of Dry Eyes?

There are two main types of dry eyes and this includes:

• ADDE: Aqueous Deficient Dry Eyes – which is simply defined as a reduction in the production of tears.
• EDE: Evaporative Dry Eyes – which is the loss of tears from the surface of the eye when there is normal production of tears.

Although, dry eyes are broadly classified into these two categories, they are not mutually exclusive and you can have a combination of the two.

Different Approaches to Dry Eyes Treatment

Here are some of the common treatments available. For a personalised treatment, visit our team today.

• Artificial tears
• Restasis prescription eye drops
• Steroid eye drops
• Lacrisert slow-release lubricant
• Punctual plugs
• Warm compresses
• LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System
• Intense pulsed light

For treatment for any eye condition or disease, contact personalEYES on 1300 68 3937 or make an online booking here.

What causes Dry Eyes?

A number of factors contribute to dry eyes, this can include:

• Age: As we age, the flow and production of tears reduces. This coupled with changes in the composition of our tears can increase our risk and contribute to dry eye symptoms.
• Gender: Our hormones can play a part in affecting our eyes and it has been found that females tend to be at high risk of developing dry eyes.
• Environment: Studies have found that environments of low humidity (ie. air conditioning & air travel) and high wind velocity (ie. windy days) can contribute to dry eyes.
• Medications: Some medications can include side effects that can cause dry eyes. For example: antihistamines, beta blockers & diuretics. Treatment for eye conditions using long term eye drops can also contribute to dry eye symptoms.
• Screen Use: Computer/tablet/phones/laptops are now a part of daily life, however, it has been demonstrated clinically that when we use our screens we blink less and this can contribute to dry eye.
• Ocular Conditions: Other eye conditions like blepharitis can contribute to dry eye symptoms.
• Systemic Conditions: Certain systemic conditions can cause dry eyes. For example: diabetics may be more prone to developing dry eyes.
• Contact Lens Use: Chronic contact lens use can reduce the stability of the tear layer which can cause dry eyes.
• Refractive Surgery: Refractive surgery can exacerbate pre-existing dry eyes or trigger borderline dry eye patients. It is important that prior to refractive surgery your dry eyes in managed so as to reduce post operative symptoms.View Video

Additional testing

Additional testing may be required to determine the severity and type of dry eyes you have and this includes:

Lipiview: The lipiview is a machine that uses interferometry to measure the thickness of the lipid or oil layer in the tears. Too much or too little oil can lead to instability of the tear film causing dry eye symptoms.

Osmolarity: Studies show that in dry eyes the tears are hyperosmolar. This test collects a very small amount of tears (40nL) and is able to detect if the tears are hyperosmolar or not.

Schirmers: The schirmers test has been around for a very long time and is used to determine if the eye is producing enough tears. A small strip of specially made paper is placed in the eye to collect tears which can then be measured to determine if you are producing enough tears.

Inflammadry: Dry eyes can cause a cascade of inflammatory responses. The inflammation can cause worsening of symptoms. Inflammadry collects tears and is able to detect the presence of matrix metalloprotease (MMP-9) which is an enzyme that is released when there is inflammation.

Meibography: Meibomian glands are tiny oil gland on our eyelids that produce the oil layer for our tears. With age and certain conditions, these glands can become small, blocked and permanently damaged. Meibography allows us to assess the condition of these glands.

TBUT: Tear break up time, is a time measure of how stable the tear layer in the eyes are.

LipiFlow

LipiFlow is the most revolutionary treatment for Dry Eye, providing comfort to 86% of Dry Eye patients.

LipiFlow is a new procedure designed to treat blocked Meibomian glands which is the root cause of Evaporative Dry Eye. Opening and clearing these blocked glands can allow them to resume natural production of lipids (oils) needed for a healthy tear film.

Some treatments attempt to add more liquid to your tears, however without the complex natural oil, tears continue to evaporate faster than produced.

At the heart of the LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System is the Activator (eyepiece). The Activator uses patented, precisely controlled heat applied to the inner eyelid with adaptive pressure encouraging your body to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for your tear film. Its single-use design and built-in sensors ensure a safe, sterile treatment. The treatment is performed in a doctor’s office—and in some cases, on the same day as your evaluation.

Bring comfort back to your life with LipiFlow.

Imagine returning to doing the things you enjoy, without worrying about your eyes. LipiFlow could be your first step to dry eye relief.

Find out more at lipiflow.com