Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), also known as Ocular Surface Disease (OSD), is the most common eye disorder, affecting about 40% of the population. It might sound like a simple condition, but it can be very complicated. It is caused when one or all of the components of the tear film are not in balance. Many things can influence dry eyes, such as health conditions, medications, and computer usage.
Many people have used artificial tears for years but without relief. It is essential that the underlying cause of the dry eye be diagnosed in order to prescribe a specific and effective treatment that brings relief. We pride ourselves on our very advanced equipment specific to diagnosing dry eye. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, our doctors will discuss all options with you and create a treatment plan for you, specific to your type of dry eye.
Dry Eye is abnormal; patients should not be forced to accept this condition as a normal part of life. There are many treatments available. Some of which are simple and might include warm compresses, tear gels, or prescription drops. Other common but more involved treatments include punctal occlusion, oral prescriptions, and vitamins. Advanced treatments include meibomian gland treatment procedures, amniotic membrane treatments, and blood serum drops.
Our Dry Eye Equipment: Diagnosing the Cause
At Bennett EyeCare Midwest, we use cutting edge equipment for the diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease. The Antares is used to help us determine the cause of your symptoms. It allows us to take high-resolution images and videos of the front of the eye and the meibomian glands within the lid. The Antares also evaluates how quickly the tears break up between blinks and shows any dry patches as they appear on the otherwise clear cornea. At the completion of all
individual tests, a comprehensive report is available to show you a description of each test and how your eyes performed.
Our In Office Dry Eye Treatments
OptiLight IPL (Intense Pulsed Light therapy) is an innovative treatment for ocular rosacea and dry eye. Initially found to be beneficial for treating facial rosacea for the past 20 years it has been more recently used in the dry eye field. Countless studies show its effectiveness at reducing fine ocular rosacea along the upper and lower lid margins. Minimizing these pro-inflammatory vessels in the eyelids reduces the expression of toxic mediators that cause further destruction of the oil glands in the eyelids. Utilizing technology is a game changer in treating ocular surface disease and dry eye. Bennett EyeCare Midwest is one of the only optometric practices in the area offering this cutting edge technology and seeing the wonderful results.
OptiLight+ Radio Frequency works by stimulating the meibomian glands (the oil producing tear glands reside along the upper and lower eyelids). These glands become blocked over time and lose their ability to produce the rich oil layer of the tear film. When this happens the eyes start to feel dry, irritated, burning and are often red. Over time these plugged glands can lead to atrophy (death of the glands), lid laxity, ocular surface disease and dry eye. As this condition worsens it can impact the ability to see clearly.
This non-invasive treatment utilizes radio frequency technology to safely and effectively treat dry eyes and dermatochalasis/droopy eyelids (also giving patients a smoother, healthier-looking appearance). Best of all, there is no surgery or down time!