“Doc, I have tried every eye drop in the pharmacy, and my dry eyes are still bothering me.”

For the first several years I practiced optometry, I would listen to this common refrain, discuss what eye drops a patient had used, and suggest other drops they might try. But over time, I noticed that many patients struggled to achieve lasting relief from their dry eyes with eye drops alone. This realization spurred me to research ideas for different therapies and products to widen the options for those of us with dry eyes. I was looking for new alternatives that worked for those un-helped by the current treatments available.

One main factor in dry eye disease is poor tear quality, but what on earth does that mean? We all have oil glands at the base of our eyelashes, but for most of us, those glands are plugged up and not producing good oil. Many dry eye treatments aim to improve the quality of the oil these glands produce.

The current thinking is that most dry eye is actually an inflammatory process, similar to the inflammation that can cause some skin conditions. Also (and yes, this is gross, but stick with me), some dry eye is caused by mites that live in our eyelashes. But fear not! You are not doomed to live the rest of your life with tiny creatures making your eyes dry. There are treatments available.

Some mild cases of dry eye can be managed with Hypochlorous eyelid cleaners. Dispensed as a spray, these eyelid cleaners help clean the eyelashes and decrease bacteria around the eyelids.

Six months after opening Mid-Modern Eyecare, I started offering in-office dry eye therapies. My Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments form the cornerstone of most of these therapies. Many patients undergoing this dry eye treatment have been amazed at the improvement that they experience. Contact our office today to find out how we can help you find relief for your dry eyes!