Dry Eye Therapy

Find Lasting Relief for Scratchy, Red, Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are uncomfortable, irritating, and can disrupt your daily life. Chronic dryness can also increase your risk of eye infections, inflammation, and even vision loss.

At Dr. David Oliphant Optometry, we provide comprehensive dry eye diagnoses and a range of dry eye therapies to help provide you with effective long-term comfort. We can get to the root of your problem so you can experience relief.

If you’re experiencing dry eye symptoms, book an eye exam.

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Common Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye disease comes with many irritating symptoms, including:

Stinging, gritty, scratchy eyes
Fluctuating vision
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
Eye redness
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Burning sensation
A feeling of something in the eye
Excessive watery eyes

Dry Eye Treatments

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to dry eye. Treatment depends on the cause of this condition, so it’s essential to have your optometrist evaluate your eyes so your treatment can be effective.

At Dr. David Oliphant Optometry, we can provide several treatment options, including:

Preservative-free eye drops: These drops are designed to help reduce eye inflammation.
Theoloz Duo: These eye drops combine antioxidants and hydration to protect and soothe your eyes.
Blephaclean: Eyelid cleaning wipes designed to unblock clogged tear glands.
Blephagel: An eyelid cleansing gel designed to cool and hydrate your eyes while softening clogged glands.
Bruder Mask: An eye mask that delivers gentle warmth to your eyelids.
BIHOCL: A topical disinfectant designed to reduce symptoms associated with blepharitis.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye is caused by a disruption in the tear film. The tear film covers the surface of the eye and is responsible for lubricating, nourishing, and protecting the cornea. It also helps focus light so you can see clearly.

Your tear film is made of 3 layers:

The inner mucus (mucin) layer adheres the tear to the eye.
The middle watery (aqueous) layer hydrates the eye, repels bacteria, and protects the cornea.
The outer oily (lipid) layer keeps the surface smooth and prevents the other layers from evaporating.

If any of these 3 layers are lacking, your tear film becomes compromised, and you can develop dry eye.

Types of Dry Eye: Getting to the Root Cause of Your Symptoms

There are multiple potential reasons why your tear film might be disrupted. It could be due to your contact lenses not fitting quite right, something in your environment, or even side effects from medication.

All these factors can interrupt tear film quality in some way, leading to dry eyes either by making tears evaporate too quickly or by preventing the production of enough tears.

Decreased Tear Production

Aqueous deficient dry eye is when your eyes don’t produce enough tears. This condition is called and can be caused by:

Aging
Excessive dehydration
Medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, & rheumatoid arthritis
Medications with ocular side effects, like antihistamines, hormone replacement therapy, & antidepressants
Long-term contact lens use resulting in corneal nerve sensitivity
Nerve damage caused by laser eye surgery (usually temporary)

Increased Tear Evaporation

The meibomian glands (tiny glands in your eyelids) create an oily layer to keep the tear film from evaporating too fast. When these glands get blocked, it can lead to evaporative dry eye. Various factors can cause this condition:

Rosacea & skin conditions
Certain eye conditions (blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction)
Eyelid disorders, like when the lids turn outward (ectropion) or inward (entropion)
Eye allergies or dry/smokey environments
Eye drops with preservatives
Vitamin A deficiency

Book Your Dry Eye Appointment Today

We understand how frustrating dry eyes can be, interrupting your busy life and routine.

Dr. David Oliphant Optometry offers dry eye treatments to help effectively alleviate symptoms and get you back to enjoying your life to the fullest.

Don’t let dry eye hold you back any longer. Schedule an appointment today to discuss personalized treatment options and regain control of your eye health.

Book Appointment