Dry Eye At Lakeside Eye Associates
Find Relief from
Dry Eye Symptoms
Do your eyes feel dry, itchy, or irritated when you wake up? Do they often feel gritty, tired, or sensitive to light throughout the day? If so, you may be one of the millions who experience the frustrating symptoms of dry eye disease.
This common eye condition can affect your comfort, quality of life, and even your vision. Lakeside Eye Associates specializes in dry eye treatments designed to relieve discomfort and help restore your eye health.
Dry Eye Explained
Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the quality of tears isn’t adequate to keep the surface of your eyes lubricated. Tears are essential for clear vision, eye comfort, and overall eye health. They provide moisture, protect against infection, and create a smooth layer on the eye’s surface, allowing you to see clearly.
When tears are insufficient, your eyes can become irritated, red, and prone to infection. This lack of moisture may even lead to corneal damage if left untreated. Managing dry eye is crucial for maintaining both comfort and eye health.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye can develop for various reasons, and it’s often a result of a combination of factors, including:
- Age: Tear production naturally decreases with age.
- Screen Use: Extended screen time reduces blink rate, leading to dry eyes.
- Environment: Dry climates, wind, smoke, or indoor heating can contribute to dry eyes.
- Medical Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or thyroid issues can contribute to dry eye.
- Medications: Certain medications, including antihistamines, antidepressants, and birth control pills, may reduce tear production.
- Hormonal Changes: Especially in women, hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause can affect tear production.
How Lakeside Eye Associates Manages Dry Eye
Our comprehensive dry eye exam aims to uncover the root cause of your symptoms and provide effective relief. We use advanced diagnostic tools to assess the health of your tear film, examine the meibomian glands (which produce the essential oil layer in your tears), and evaluate the overall quality of your tear production.
We also use meibomian gland imaging to assess the function and health of these glands, as they play a vital role in preventing tears from evaporating too quickly. We conduct testing to identify any signs of inflammation on the eye's surface. With this thorough evaluation, we can develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs, addressing your symptoms and underlying causes.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy
IPL therapy is a non-invasive treatment used to reduce inflammation, targeting blood vessels that contribute to chronic inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction. IPL delivers gentle pulses of light to the skin around the eyes, which helps improve gland function and increase tear production.
Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT)
LLLT uses calibrated light to stimulate the meibomian glands, promoting natural tear production and reducing inflammation in the eyelids. This therapy is comfortable and safe, making it an excellent option for those who struggle with chronic dry eye.