Our vision and eye health are dependent on our tear film which is comprised of a mucin layer, a water layer and an oil layer. Some of us do not make enough aqueous tears for the water layer and many of us do not make enough lipid tears for the oil layer of the tear film which results in dry eye disease.

 

What is dry eye?

Dry eye happens when your eyes do not make enough tears or when the tears do not work properly to keep the surface of the eye comfortable and healthy. Dry eye can cause discomfort, blurred vision, redness, and irritation, and it may become worse over time without treatment.

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What are the symptoms of dry eye?

Common dry eye symptoms include:

• Burning eyes

• Stinging

• Redness

• Gritty or sandy feeling

• Eye fatigue

• Watery eyes

• Blurry or fluctuating vision

• Light sensitivity

• Discomfort with contact lenses

Many patients are surprised that watery eyes can actually be a sign of dry eye.

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What causes dry eye?

Dry eye can have many causes, including:

• Aging

• Hormonal changes

• Screen time

• Contact lens wear

• Certain medications

• Meibomian gland dysfunction

• Environmental factors

• Previous eye surgery

• Autoimmune conditions

At Bauer Eyecare, we look for the underlying cause of your dry eye symptoms so treatment can be more effective.

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What is a dry eye exam?

A dry eye exam is an evaluation of your tear film, eyelids, eye surface, and dry eye symptoms. It helps determine whether you have dry eye and what type of dry eye may be affecting your eyes.

Your doctor may assess tear quality, tear quantity, eyelid health, inflammation, and other factors that contribute to dryness and irritation.

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Why are my eyes watery if I have dry eye?

Watery eyes can happen when the eyes become irritated from dryness. The eye may produce reflex tears, but these tears often do not solve the underlying problem.

This is why many people with dry eye say their eyes feel both dry and watery at the same time.

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Can dry eye cause blurry vision?

Yes. Dry eye can cause blurred or fluctuating vision, especially during reading, computer use, driving, or long days of screen time. When the tear film is unstable, vision may come and go throughout the day.

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Can I wear contact lenses if I have dry eye?

Some patients with dry eye can still wear contact lenses, but lens comfort may be reduced if the underlying dryness is not managed. In some cases, specialty lenses such as scleral lenses may help certain patients with more severe dryness.

 

How is dry eye treated?

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your dry eye. Options may include:

• Artificial tears

• Lid hygiene

• Warm compresses

• Prescription eye drops

• Changes to contact lens wear

• Treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction (IPL)

• Nutritional support

• In-office recommendations based on your condition

The best treatment is not the same for everyone, which is why an exam is important.

 

When should I schedule a dry eye exam?

You should schedule a dry eye evaluation if your symptoms are frequent, getting worse, affecting your vision, or making contact lens wear uncomfortable.

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Why Treatment is so important? 

​Dry Eye Disease causes an inflammatory cascade, this cascade makes the condition chronic and progressive. If not controlled, the disease causes atrophy and loss of the meibomian glands. Unfortunately, meibomian glands don’t have the ability to spontaneously regenerate, once lost, they will not return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IPL TREATMENT

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What to expect? 
We start your IPL treatment by placing shields over your eyes to protect them from light pulses. Following that, a thin layer of cooling gel is applied to the treatment area and a small device administers the pulses of light to the region around the eyelids, which dislodges oil buildup.

After treatment
Following the treatment, patients may describe skin tenderness and a burning sensation. This can be alleviated with ‘cooling gel’ which will be provided as well as a cool compress. Sun protection is very important post-treatment. You may return to normal activities after two weeks or as recommended by your doctor​​​​​​.

How many treatments are needed?
The number of times could be different for each patient. We recommend 4 sessions spaced 3-4 weeks apart. Each session usually takes 15-20 minutes. You may experience a warm sensation as the light is applied to the skin, the treatment is gentle with minimum discomfort.​​​​​​​

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​​​​​​​DRY EYE PRODUCTS

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