Does it feel like your eyes are constantly dry and irritated? Do you find yourself rubbing your eyes or blinking excessively? If so, you are not alone. According to a 2019 study based right here in Ontario, it is estimated that approximately 6 million Canadian adults suffer from dry eyes.
Are you one of them? Take our quick and easy online dry eye test now!
If you think you may have dry eyes, book an appointment now. The optometrists at Dr. Zargar Eyecare can help alleviate your dry eye symptoms and get your eyes back on track.
Dry eye is an increasingly common condition. Symptoms often include:
Our tears are made up of three main ingredients: mucous, water, and oil. Together, they make up our tear film. If the ingredients in these layers are absent or their ratio is imbalanced, the tear film’s quality is compromised. The result is dry, uncomfortable eyes.
Just as important as the quality of our tears is the volume of tears our eyes produce. If the glands that produce tears are jeopardized or a medical condition or environmental factors hinder our tear production, our eyes do not stay adequately lubricated.
Certain medical conditions can significantly contribute to dry eyes. Things like diabetes and autoimmune disorders, such as arthritis and lupus, can compromise your tear film and causing dry eyes. Similarly, some medications have direct side effects that can adversely affect our eyes’ moisture levels.
Many environmental factors can contribute to dry eye. Things like excessive screen time can lead to digital eye strain and dry eye. Similarly, ill-fitting contact lenses and smoky or dry climates can compromise tear film and exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
Before we can recommend successful treatment options, we will conduct a thorough dry eye assessment to determine the root cause of your dry eye.
From measuring tear production, to assessing how long it takes for your tears to evaporate, to examining your contact lenses and their fit, we use a variety of diagnostic tools and techniques to determine exactly why your eyes are dry and how best to solve the issue.
The Meibomian Gland Evaluator™ (MGE) is used to evaluate the secretions from your meibomian glands. Using a gentle pressure similar to a deliberate blink, the MGE stimulates meibomian secretions that are assessed using a slit lamp.
It’s a quick, convenient, standardized, and repeatable test used to determine if your meibomian glands are obstructed, allowing us to design a specific treatment plan for you. It’s also a useful tool for measuring your treatment progress and success.
Dry eyes develop for many different reasons, and efficient treatments start with an accurate diagnosis of the problem. LipiView is a noninvasive diagnostic technology designed to determine if LipiFlow® is the right treatment for you. It analyzes the lipid layer of your tear film to precisely pinpoint if meibomian gland dysfunction is the root cause of your dry eyes. If it is, then you are the ideal candidate for LipiFlow® treatments.
Ready to take back control of your dry eyes? Click below to book a consultation!
Artificial tears are eye drops that can be purchased without a prescription. These drops mimic your own natural tears and can be used as needed to help comfort and lubricate your eyes.
To our patients, we recommend and carry only the most effective and leading dry eye products. Book an appointment and we will review the product that is right for you.
In some cases, we may prescribe medicated eye drops to relieve your dry eye. Medicated eye drops help to lubricate the eyes, stimulate tear production and ease redness and inflammation.
AlumierMD is a line of customizable, medical-grade skin care products which work in tandem with our other dry eye treatments. They work to keep skin on your face and around your eyes healthy and hydrated to maximize treatment effectiveness.
AlumierMD products give us the wide range of solutions we need to effectively help with a wide range of skin issue that interfere with your dry eye condition.
In some cases, punctal plugs, small implants placed into the drainage ducts on the upper and lower lids, may be suggested. Punctal plugs work to retain moisture on the surface of the eyes when tears drain from the eye too quickly. These plugs can be easily removed if your eyes begin to retain too many tears.
Using a combination of heat and massage, the revolutionary LipiFlow® treatment removes blockages from the meibomian glands, allowing natural oils to resume production, treating meibomian gland dysfunction. This 12-minute treatment is conveniently performed right in the clinic.
Before administering LipiFlow®, we use the non-invasive LipiView technology to precisely determine if meibomian gland dysfunction is the cause of your dry eyes. If it is, then LipiFlow® is the right treatment for you.
There are several ongoing studies that point to omega-3s and antioxidants improving symptoms of dry eye. At Dr. Zagar Eyecare, we offer PRN omega 3 supplements, for relief from dry eye. Additionally, we believe the introduction of more water and fatty foods, such as fish, almonds and leafy green vegetables and quitting adverse lifestyle factors such as smoking, can also help dry eye.
Moist heat can often help dry eye disease by opening oil glands and allow oil to flow back into the eye. At Dr. Zagar Eyecare, we offer BRUDER Moist Heat Eye Compress, which can help with dry eye, digital eye strain, and more.
Dr. Zargar Eyecare
