Dry Eye Center
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common ailments in the world. Dry eye usually involves increased tear evaporation or inadequate tear production on the surface of the eye. Patients with dry eye syndrome may have the following symptoms: fluctuating/decreased vision, irritation, redness, eye pain and tearing. Risk factors for dry eye include environmental factors, screen usage, hormonal factors, contact lens usage, certain medical conditions and prior eye surgeries. Our ophthalmologists at Physicians Eye Care Center are very experienced in diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome and restoring patients' ocular comfort and function. There are numerous modalities we use to treat dry eye syndrome at our dry eye center. In addition to all of the widely available prescription therapies, Physicians Eye Care Dry Eye Center has several specialized in-office treatments that can provide patients with additional relief for their dry eye symptoms:
OptiLight IPL
OptiLight IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment designed to target the root cause of dry eye by improving meibomian gland function, reducing inflammation, and enhancing tear quality. IPL is a quick procedure offered in the office. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes, there is minimal recovery time and it provides significant symptom improvement for those suffering with dry eye syndrome.
Meibomian Gland Expression
Blepharitis is a condition involving clogged meibomian glands (which are essentially oil glands) along the eyelid margin. When these glands get clogged, there is inflammation on the surface of the eye resulting in dry eye syndrome. When eyelid heat at home is not enough to unclog your oil glands, we can perform a brief in-office procedure called meibomian gland expression. The procedure consists of heating the eyelids for about 10-20 minutes with a specialized device called the EyeXpress Eye Hydration System. This is followed by your physician using a small handheld device to gently unclog and rejuvenate your oil glands. This procedure has improved quality of life for many of our dry eye sufferers.
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are microscopic inserts placed in the tear drainage duct that allow more tear coverage on the surface of the eye. Punctal plug placement is performed in the office and takes only a few minutes.
