Join the “Not Gonna Live With It” Generation and schedule your Dry Eye Evaluation today!
Since dry eye disease has a variety of symptoms, it’s critical to identify the root cause in order to provide the most effective treatment plan. The experts at ArkLaTex Dry Eye Center possess the knowledge and specialized instruments to perform important testing that can determine each specific dry eye condition.
If you suffer from dry eye, you may have sought treatment with limited results. At ArkLaTex Dry Eye Center, we find the underlying problem and treat it rather than just treating the symptoms with artificial tears.
The doctors at ArkLaTex Eyes specialize in dry eye disease care and treatment. We are able to diagnose and determine a solution for you. Dry Eye Disease is a complex condition with many factors influencing its onset. While there is no permanent solution at this time, the symptoms can be significantly reduced with proper treatment. In order to accomplish this, the underlying causes must be discovered and addressed to create a treatment plan that will work specifically for you. ArkLaTex Eyes is the home of ArkLaTex Dry Eye Center, where we have specialized instruments to evaluate you for Dry Eye Disease. We will take the time to explain your specific Dry Eye condition and the best treatments and products to treat you. Come in today and let us determine a treatment that is best for you!
Call and schedule today. 903.838.9063
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry Eye Disease is a widespread, chronic condition that effects around 50 million Americans. This chronic condition can have a significant impact on your quality of life, causing a foreign body sensation, pain, blurry vision, and dry or watery eyes.
Despite being widespread, many dry eye sufferers are not aware that they’re suffering from Dry Eye Disease or that real treatments exist. Instead, they suffer in silence with no real answers.
We provide our dry eye patients with the best care possible by providing a wide range of treatment options.
With every blink of the eyes, tears spread across the outer surface, or cornea. They are necessary for maintaining eye health, as well as providing clear vision. Not only do tears help keep the eyes wet and smooth, but they also reduce the risk of eye infections and wash away foreign matter.
The eye’s tear film is composed of three layers. Each layer of the film must be working properly to ensure the eye remains lubricated and moisturized. Both the quantity and quality of tears are important because we rely on them to feel comfortable. If the ocular surface does not receive the proper amount of quality tears, a chronic condition called Dry Eye Disease is the result.
Dry Eye Disease is a common condition that affects one out of every seven Americans over the age of 21 and that age is getting younger each year. It occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or produce low-quality tears. When tear production is not in balance, the patient is likely to feel uncomfortable. However, the doctors at ArkLaTex Dry Eye Center are trained to diagnose and properly treat each patient’s dry eye condition, depending on their specific needs.
The Symptoms of Dry Eye
Those who have dry eye disease can experience a variety of symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Stinging or burning sensation in the eyes.
- Scratchy feeling, like there’s something in the eyes.
- Light sensitivity
- Red eyes
- Blurred vision
- Stringy mucus in and around the eyes
- Eye fatigue
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Difficulty driving at night
- Watery eyes (the body’s response to irritation)
If you experience any of the above symptoms on a regular basis, it’s important to contact an eye care provider as soon as possible. Not only will they assist you in diagnosing and treating your condition, but you will also receive relief.
Dry Eye Disease Causes
The two main issues that can cause the condition are decreased tear production and low-quality tears. Those that contribute to decreased tear production include: Medical conditions, such as allergic eye disease, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, lupus, and vitamin A deficiencies, Medications, including decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics, antipsychotics, medicines that lower cholesterol, hormone replacement therapies, drugs for high blood pressure, gastrointestinal issues, and acne, those for Parkinson’s Disease, and birth control.
Other Causes but not limited to:
- Aging
- Desensitivity of the cornea from contact lens usage or laser eye surgery (although this is most often temporary)
- Hormones, especially in women following menopause
Secondly, the production of low-quality tears can result from the following:
- Clogging of eyelid glands (Meibomian glands)
- Eye allergies
- Blinking less often from prolonged screen use
- Wind, smoke, air conditioning, dehumidifiers, high altitudes, hot or dry air
- Eyelids turning outwards or inwards
- Preservatives in eye drops
Although there are a variety of causes, each patient with Dry Eye Disease wishes for relief. Treatment can be effective when performed correctly and meets each individual’s needs.
Testing and Diagnosis for Dry Eye Disease
Tests and procedures that may be used to determine the cause of your dry eyes include:
A comprehensive eye exam - An eye exam that includes a complete history of your overall health and your eye health can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your dry eyes.
A test to measure the volume of your tears and a test to determine the quality of your tears. Other tests use special dyes in eyedrops to determine the surface condition of your eyes. Your doctor looks for staining patterns on the corneas and measures how long it takes before your tears evaporate.
Imaging with the OCULUS Keratograph 5M
The OCULUS Keratograph 5M is an advanced corneal topographer with a built-in keratometer and a color camera optimized for external imaging. Unique features include examining the meibomian glands, non-invasive tear film break-up time and the tear meniscus height measurement and evaluating the lipid layer.
Treatment
Just as there are multiple causes of Dry Eye Disease, so too are there multiple treatment options. In addition, the severity of symptoms also plays a role in determining the appropriate treatment plan. At the ArkLaTex Dry Eye Center our goal is to identify the root cause of each patient’s Dry Eye Disease symptoms so that we can provide the best, most effective treatment possible.
We offer the latest, most effective dry eye treatments, including OptiLight- IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), iLux, Blephex, puctual plugs, prescription medications, and various other products. As your optometrists in the ArkLaTex, we are specialized in examining your eyes for Dry Eye Disease and treating them in the best way possible.
Treatment may include……
Punctal Plugs
In cases where Dry Eye Disease is caused by the rapid evaporation of tears, completely or partially closing the ducts can be a great option. Since tear ducts serve to drain tears away from the eyes, the procedure aims to keep tears on the surface longer. Punctal plugs are short-term solutions.
OptiLight by Lumenis- IPL
Our office is the only one in the area to offer Opti-Light IPL by Lumenis. It is the first and only intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment to be FDA approved for the management of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction - shown to reduce inflammation, improve tear stability and improve meibomian gland function. A series of 4 treatments performed 3-4 weeks apart with maintenance treatments every 6-12 months is typically recommended.
iLux Dry Eye Treatment
We are excited to offer our patients a treatment that is designed to treat the root cause of 85% of Dry Eye symptoms: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). MGD causes blockages in the meibomian glands which prevents them from secreting enough oil. This oil is what prevents the surface of your eye from drying out. If glands are blocked for long enough, these glands can atrophy.
iLux works by implementing a precise application of heat to both the outer and inner eyelids. This application has proven to be an extremely effective process for clearing blockages found in the Meibomian glands and can restore the functionality of the Meibomian glands. This allows the regular production of the oils that make up the protective lipid layer of the eye’s tear film. Once the glands are free of blockages, they can resume producing and delivering the essential oil needed for a healthy tear film and ocular comfort.
iLux is the only handheld FDA approved treatment for MGD uniquely designed to customize treatments for each patient.
Prokera
Patients with moderate to severe dry eye may have persistent damage to the corneal surface. These patients will likely benefit from treatment with a Prokera Amniotic Membrane. Donated amniotic tissue is held in place over the cornea with a small ring for several days. This tissue promotes corneal healing and can keep even severely dry eyes comfortable for months after removal.
Specialized products
Oasis-Omega -3
Oasis – Preservative Free Tears
Oasis – Hypochlorous Spray
Oasis – Tea Tree Eye Lid Scrubs
EyeEco – D.E.R.M Beaded Mask
EyeEco – Tea Tree Eyelid & Facial Cleanser
EyeEco – E9 Eyelid & Skin Therapy
Zocular – ZEST Eyelid Treatment
Regener-Eyes - Biologic Eye Drop
Autologous – Serum Eye Drops
Lifestyle Changes
Some cases of dry eye disease are caused by environmental surroundings. Depending on the specific aspect of the patient’s environment that is causing the irritation, the following lifestyle changes can be implemented:
Use a humidifier to moisten the air in the home
Avoid smoking and limit exposure to secondhand smoke
Blink often when focusing on a task for long periods of time (reading, looking at a computer screen)
Drink water throughout the day to keep the body hydrated
Wear sunglasses with side shields to prevent tears from evaporating too quickly
Include omega-3 fatty acids and/or fish oil tablets in the diet to increase nutritional support for oil glands
Get Relief from the Experts at ArkLaTex Dry Eye Center
When you experience any symptom of Dry Eye Disease, it’s hard to concentrate on your daily activities. Clear vision is something many individuals take for granted. It’s crucial to see an eye specialist when you begin to notice issues.
Call and schedule your Dry Eye evaluation today. 903.838.9063