What is dry eye disease?
Dry eye disease is an ocular condition that affects the surface of your eyes. Normally, the surfaces of your eyes stay lubricated because the glands around your eyes produce tears. Every time you blink, your eyelids distribute the tears across the surfaces of your eyes. The tears flush away particles and irritants to keep your eyes clear.
If you have a dry eye disease, you either don’t produce enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated, or the tears you produce are of poor quality. You naturally produce fewer tears with age, and various medical conditions and medications can further diminish them. Additionally, dry or windy environments can cause evaporation of the few tears that you do produce.
If you produce enough tear, but your eyes still feel dry, your tear film may be out of balance. Tears contain water, mucus, and oil that work together to nourish your eyes. If the components are not in good balance, your tears might evaporate more quickly and spread unevenly across the surfaces of your eyes.
Dry eye disease causes several uncomfortable symptoms. You likely have dry eyes if you have:
If you have any of these symptoms and can’t find relief, the team at VIP Laser Eye Center will provide you with the most comprehensive evaluation for dry eyes around. They evaluate your symptoms, your personal situation, and create an individualized treatment plan to restore your comfort.
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription eye drops, VIP Laser Eye Center offers all of the latest available treatments for dry eye disease. One highly effective treatment for dry eye disease is called LipiFlow®. LipiFlow is a device that removes blockages from your tear glands to improve their functioning and keep your eyes lubricated. During the straightforward, non-surgical treatment, the patented LipiFlow device delivers therapeutic energy to your glands to open them up while protecting the rest of your eye.
VIP Laser Eye Center’s LipiFlow treatments are superior to others because the team supplements them with BlephEx™ as well as gland expression. BlephEx is a handheld, motorized device that removes debris and exfoliates your eyelids and eye lashes Specifically,for people suffering from blepharitis and eyelid inflammation. Meibomian gland expression is a type of massage that helps further unclog your oil glands to promote a healthier balance to your tears.
To find out more about dry eye disease and available treatments, call VIP Laser Eye Center today. We will construct an individualized treatment plan to fit your lifestyle.