If the glands in and around your eyelids aren’t producing enough tears, you may start experiencing dry eye – a highly uncomfortable condition that can cause your eyes to feel like they’re stinging or burning. The good news is that there are multiple ways to deal with dry eye – but which is truly the best option in your case? Your optometrist is here to give you an overview of some of your choices for dry eye treatment so that you can get the relief that you deserve.
Eye Drops
Some cases of dry eye are relatively mild, such as what you might experience if you spend too much time on the computer. In these types of situations, you can give your eyes the moisture they need with eye drops (also called artificial tears), which can be prescribed or bought over the counter.
In the event that you require prescription eye drops, the brand that your optometrist recommends can vary depending on your situation. For example, Restasis eye drops can be used to reduce inflammation while also encouraging your eyes to produce more natural tears.
Punctal Plugs
One possible contributing factor to dry eye is that your tears may be draining too quickly. This particular problem can often be addressed with punctal plugs, which are meant to be placed into the tear drainage ducts located near the corners of your eyelids. Thanks to this treatment, your tears will stay in your eyes longer, thus ensuring that they’re able to provide sufficient moisture.
Warm Compress
Normally, the meibomian glands in your eyelids add a special oil to your tears that slows down evaporation. If the meibomian glands become clogged, the result is poor-quality tears that dry up far too quickly. Fortunately, it’s often possible to unclog these glands by applying a warm compress to them.
Blephex
Sometimes a warm compress alone won’t be enough to clear your blocked meibomian glands, which is why your optometrist may suggest other treatments. For example, if you have blepharitis (meaning the glands near the front of your eyelids are clogged), you might benefit from Blephex. With the help of advanced technology, any bacteria or oily particles that may have built up on the glands can be removed.
Of course, these are just a few examples of the many solutions that are available for dry eye. To explore all of your options and determine which one is the best fit for your situation, you should speak to your optometrist as soon as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Nayiri Ajoian is the trusted optometrist at EyeSmile Dentistry and Optometry of Belmont. She’s a proud graduate of the New England College of Optometry in Boston. When it comes to treating dry eye, she’s able to offer her patients a wide range of options, including prescription eye drops and Blephex. To schedule a visit with Dr. Ajoian, visit her website or call (617) 484-7869.