Dry Eye Therapy | iSight Optometry

Irritating, Uncomfortable Eyes

We use our eyes all day long, but we rarely think of them unless they’re uncomfortable—and then they’re all we think about. Adults might turn to redness-relieving eye drops, while kids often rub their eyes. But neither strategy tackles the true cause of tired, scratchy eyes.

Dry eye is a chronic, common, and uncomfortable condition impacting around 6 million Canadians. Not only is it irritating, but it can really put a damper on your daily activities. Dry eyes can decrease your quality of life and lower productivity.

But relief is available! Book an appointment today for a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose your dry eye. If left untreated, dry eye can lead to long-term infections and eye damage down the road. Anytime your eyes are uncomfortable, it’s best to pay us a visit and rule out more worrisome conditions.

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What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is exactly what it sounds like—it occurs when your eyes aren’t producing enough lubrication to keep them moist and comfortable.

There are 2 main types of dry eye. The first—and least common—occurs when the eyes simply don’t produce enough tears. The second occurs when the tears are of poor quality.

Decreased Tear Production

Reasons for decreased tear production are varied and might include:

Contact lens wear
Normal aging
Medications such as antihistamines or antidepressants
Medical conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren’s Syndrome
Recent laser vision correction surgery

Poor Quality Tears

Good-quality tears depend on a balanced and effective tear film. The tear film is made up of 3 layers—a mucus layer to spread the tears over the surface of the eye, a water layer to hydrate the eye, and an oil layer to keep the water from evaporating too quickly. If there’s an imbalance in the tear film, dry eye can result.

The tiny glands along the top and bottom edges of the eyelids, called the meibomian glands, are responsible for producing the oil layer of your tear film. Blockages in these glands can cause a reduction in the amount of oil produced, leading to dry eyes.

When we diagnose your dry eye, we’ll also look at the condition of your meibomian glands and recommend treatment options if they’re not functioning properly.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye symptoms generally occur in both eyes at the same time and can include:

Stinging or burning
Gritty or scratchy feeling
Foreign body sensation
Red or watery eyes
Blurry vision
Sensitivity to light
Eye fatigue
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Discomfort when wearing contacts

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, book your appointment to explore dry eye treatment options today.

Comprehensive Dry Eye Management

Our approach to dry eye starts with identifying what is contributing to your symptoms. We assess for evaporative dry eye, reduced tear production, inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, and systemic factors to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

We combine diagnostics with in-office and at-home treatments to help you find relief.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

For patients with signs suggestive of Sjögren’s syndrome, we perform Schirmer testing to assess tear production and coordinate care with rheumatology when appropriate.

In-Office Treatments

Treatment options may include NuLids in-office lid hygiene therapy, manual meibomian gland expression, punctal occlusion, and amniotic membrane placement. Compounded autologous serum tears may also be considered for severe or refractory dry eye.

Prescription and Lubricating Therapy

Depending on the type and severity of your dry eye, we may recommend prescription treatments such as Restasis®, Cequa®, or Xiidra®, along with preservative-free, lipid-based, hyaluronate-containing, or hypotonic artificial tears. Ointments may be recommended for nighttime or severe exposure-related symptoms.

Lid and Eyelid Care

Blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction can be managed with lid hygiene wipes, tea tree oil products for Demodex-associated disease, hypochlorous acid spray, manual gland expression, and Bruder moist heat masks for at-home care.

Specialty Lenses and Collaborative Care

For patients with significant ocular surface disease, scleral contact lenses may provide additional protection and comfort. When needed, we also collaborate with ophthalmology and rheumatology for surgical, medical, or systemic management.

Finding Relief From Dry Eye

No matter the cause of your dry eye, relief is available. We offer customized treatment options tailored to your unique needs. Start on the path to clear, comfortable vision today!

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We are on Harvey Avenue, and there is plenty of parking outside the clinic. Our location is wheelchair accessible! We look forward to welcoming you and your family.