What is dry eye?
Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or produce poor-quality tears. Tears are essential for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision.
What causes dry eye?
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Decreased Tear Production: Conditions like Sjögren's syndrome, age, hormonal changes, and certain medications can reduce tear production.
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Increased Tear Evaporation: Environmental factors (wind, smoke, dry air), prolonged screen use, and eyelid problems such as Blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) can increase tear evaporation.
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Imbalance in Tear Composition: The tear film has three layers (oil, water, and mucus). An imbalance in these layers can lead to dry eye.
What are the symptoms of dry eye?
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Stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in the eyes
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Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
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Sensitivity to light
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Redness of the eyes
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A feeling of having something in the eyes
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Difficulty wearing contact lenses
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Difficulty with nighttime driving
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Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dry eyes
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Blurred vision or eye fatigue
What happens if I don’t manage my dry eye?
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Eye infections: Tears protect the surface of the eyes from infection. Without adequate tears, there is an increased risk of eye infections.
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Reduced comfort during contact lens wear
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Damage to the surface of the eyes: Untreated dry eyes can lead to inflammation, corneal ulcers, and vision problems.
How do we treat Dry Eye?
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Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Taking breaks during screen time, using a humidifier, Omega 3 supplements and wearing sunglasses outdoors can help manage symptoms.
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Eyelid Hygiene – Hot compress, Lid wipes, Sprays
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Artificial Tears and Eye Drops: Our over-the-counter products can provide temporary relief.
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In-practice procedures: ZEST and NuLids treatment
Eyelid Hygiene
What is Blepharitis and MGD?
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, particularly at the base of the eyelashes. It can cause discomfort, redness, and swelling, and is often chronic and requires regular treatment. There are two main types of blepharitis:
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Anterior Blepharitis: Affects the outside front edge of the eyelid where the eyelashes are attached. It is often caused by bacteria (staphylococcal blepharitis) or dandruff of the scalp and eyebrows (seborrheic blepharitis).
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Posterior Blepharitis: Affects the inner edge of the eyelid that comes in contact with the eyeball. It is usually caused by problems with the oil (meibomian) glands in the eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction).
Effective eyelid cleansing is an essential component to reducing the symptoms of dry eye. Our gold-standard ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) and Nulids treatments are designed to help exactly that.
ZEST involves using a natural gel made from okra (lady fingers). This gel helps remove oil, debris, and bacteria that accumulate on the eyelids and block tear ducts, which can exacerbate dry eye symptoms. The process is simple, quick (typically around 10 minutes), and painless. The gel is massaged into the eyelids using a cotton swab, then rinsed off with a saline solution
This treatment not only helps in managing dry eye symptoms but is also effective against demodex mites, which can cause inflammation and irritation by blocking the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes. Patients usually experience significant relief after just one treatment, noticing an improvement in eye comfort and appearance.
NuLids
Another tool we can use is NuLids which is a handheld microexfoliation device with disposable, soft, oscillating tips that gently massage and clean the eyelids. Our Optometrists will advise which treatment would be most suitable for you upon examination.
Want to know more?
It’s easy to get in touch.
For more information, or to book an appointment, simply contact the practice on 0116 2433 755. Alternatively, you can book online by clicking the button below.
If you’ve got a question, we’re always happy to help.