Everyone’s eyes occasionally feel gritty or uncomfortable. But for some people, the dry, scratchy sensation is an ongoing problem. Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears to keep the eyes properly lubricated, or the tears it produces are of poor quality.
Bochner Eye Institute is committed to treating people with dry eye and helping them overcome the constant discomfort. In fact, we founded the Dry Eye Clinic, one of the first clinics of its kind in North America. Housed in our Toronto practice, the team at the Dry Eye Clinic focuses on identifying the cause of patients’ dry eye problems and offering customized solutions.
What Causes Dry Eye?
In some cases of dry eye, tear production diminishes due to either age, medical condition, certain medications or environmental factors. If the amount of tear production declines, symptoms of dry eye can develop.
Another scenario that can lead to dry eye is that the composition of the tears is off. Normally, the tears are composed of three separate layers: a watery layer, an oily layer and a mucus layer, each with its own purpose. The oily layer, which is made in and secreted from the meibomian glands, is designed to keep the tears from evaporating off the eye’s surface prematurely. Some cases of dry eye are caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, meaning the glands become blocked or otherwise impaired and as a result, the tears lack the oil they need to remain on the eye’s surface and keep it moisturized.
Available Treatments at Our Dry Eye Clinic
The treatment recommended for you will depend on the underlying cause of your dry eye condition. After evaluating your eyes and performing some diagnostic testing, we can discuss the following remedies to reduce your symptoms:
- Restasis eye drops: These medicated eye drops are designed to stimulate the lacrimal glands to produce more tears.
- Punctal plugs: These small medical devices are inserted into the tear ducts to reduce the drainage of tears from the eye and allow more tears to reach the surface of the eye.
- LipiFlow: The innovative LipiFlow treatment is designed to open blocked or clogged meibomian glands and increase their secretions. A combination of heat and massage is applied to the glands to gently open them and restore their ability to secrete lipids for the tear film.
Contact Bochner Eye Institute
If you are experiencing dry, gritty eyes and would like to schedule a consultation at the Dry Eye Clinic, please call 416-944-EYES (3937) or email us today.