DRY EYE TECHNOLOGY IN North Carolina
When tears decrease in frequency,
Dry Eye is typically the result.
What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Syndrome, referred to as DES, is a chronic eye condition that occurs when the eyes produce an insufficient amount of tears or when the tears lack the essential oils that lubricate the eye’s surface. (This often results in watery eyes and excessive tearing!). A well-lubricated eye blocks foreign bodies or substances from irritating the eye’s surface.
Doctor Biagi and Doctor Patel treat patients from all over the Triangle who have Dry Eye symptoms, helping them achieve long-lasting relief from Dry Eye Syndrome.
Doctor Walent and Doctor Strange are our Wilmington doctors who specialize in Dry Eye care, utilizing some of the most advanced Dry Eye solutions to make sure that your DES is being taken care of.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry Eye can result from a number of factors, including genetics, the natural aging process, or prescription medications, to name a few.
Hormonal changes are a common cause of Dry Eye. In fact, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking oral contraceptives, or experiencing menopause find that their eyes feel dry and uncomfortable during these times. Women over the age of 50 have a 50% greater chance of developing DES than men of the same age.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eye
Patients with DES experience a number of symptoms that can disrupt their daily activities or cause chronic pain.
The most common signs of DES include the following:
- Blurriness
- Burning
- Dryness
- Feeling as if something is in your eye
- Irritation
- Itchy eyes
- Pain
- Red eyes
- Stinging
- Watery eyes
Dry Eye Treatment and Relief
Those who suffer from DES often try to alleviate the pain by blinking either less or more often, rubbing their eyes, or by using over-the-counter artificial tears.
Why is blinking important? Blinking is healthy because it naturally moisturizes the eyes and gets rid of tiny particles that may enter the eye. Less blinking can increase dryness, itching, or redness, making DES symptoms even more acute.
Rubbing your eyes, especially when they’re already irritated, can intensify your symptoms. This is because the added pressure can make the pain worse. If your hands aren’t 100% clean, you can unintentionally spread germs or bacteria into your eyes when you rub them. Rubbing the eyes can also cause tiny blood vessels to break, increasing the redness of your eyes.
Artificial tears provide some temporary relief by lubricating the eyes with a medicated solution. These can be quite effective at alleviating soreness and itchiness, however, excessive use isn’t recommended. Many brands include preservatives, which aren’t good for your ocular health in the long-term. Other preservative-free brands can, over time, fail to relieve the basic Dry Eye symptoms. Patients may find that having to continuously purchase artificial tears can become costly, and consistently using them throughout the day disrupts their daily activities.
Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment
Typically, DES is treated with medicated eye drops, anti-inflammatory drops, or a heated compress. Occasionally, the doctor may recommend punctal plugs. These are tiny devices that are inserted into the eye’s tear duct, blocking any drainage. This can alleviate DES symptoms by preventing moisture from draining out of the eye, instead keeping them inside the tear duct area. This increases the moisture level, giving longer-term relief. Plus, punctal plugs are not permanent and can be easily removed or replaced, making them a simple, affordable solution to alleviate symptoms.
Dry Eye Technology
Advancements in medical technology and scientific breakthroughs have made treatment for Dry Eye easier, with quicker results, and longer-lasting benefits. Three of the up-and-coming technologies for DES treatment are OptiLight, Antares, and LipiFlow.
The Eye Center has some of the most cutting-edge and advanced technologies to quickly and effectively test for Dry Eye Syndrome. Let our Doctors (Biagi, Patel, Walent, and Doctor Strange) as well as our talented, experienced staff help get you started on the path to real long-term relief from Dry Eye.
OptiLight
OptiLight is the first and only IPL FDA approved for dry eye management. Backed by numerous clinical studies, OptiLight’s novel Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT) helps provide a safe and effective way to improve your Dry Eye Syndrome in as little as time 10-15 minute sessions.
Antares
The Antares is an advanced corneal analysis topographer with the ability to analyze tear-film, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD lipid layer grading, infrared meibography, pupillography and contact lenses fitting. The Antares allows us to quickly and comfortably review the quality of your tear glands as well as the tear itself.
LipiFlow
The LipiFlow is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that uses Thermal Pulsation Technology to break up any blockages that can often-time be the causes of Dry Eye Syndrome. The LipiFlow is designed to target the root cause of many Dry Eye Symptoms, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).