A computer monitor and a white table with a hairdryer on it

How Does Concourse Optometry Diagnose Dry Eyes?

A comprehensive evaluation will help us determine the cause and severity of your dry eyes. This includes a detailed medical history, lifestyle assessment, and a dry eye survey. Your eyelids and the surface of your eyes will also be examined. Advanced imaging technology will be used to assess tear volume, tear breakup time, and Meibomian gland function. Based on these findings, a personalized treatment plan will be developed to address the root causes of your dry eyes and alleviate your symptoms. The treatment plan may include prescription eye drops and/or in-office therapy. 

Diet and Supplements for Dry Eye Prevention

  • Water

    Keeping your hydration levels up can help improve the comfort of your eyes. It’s great for your skin, bowels, kidneys, and eyes.

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    Ensure your Meibomian glands are secreting enough oil to keep the tears from evaporating too fast. Fish, leafy vegetables, vegetable oil, soybeans, nuts, and seeds are good sources of omega-3s. Fish oil supplements will also help to reduce inflammation of the Meibomian glands for proper oil secretion. Not all fish oil supplements are created equal. A correct DHA/EPA percentage and encapsulation are crucial for improving tear film quality. We partner with De3 by PRN to deliver a high-quality omega-3 source.

Medications for Dry Eye

  • Artificial Tears

    This is probably the most common medication used to treat dry eyes due to its availability. Artificial tears help lubricate the eyes and treat irritation, dryness, and inflammation. While it can relieve some of the common symptoms, it will not be able to deal with the underlying cause of dry eyes. Look for preservative-free drops, especially when using multiple drops or using them more than four times per day.

  • Prescription Eye Drops

    Prescription eye drops that contain the immune-suppressing medication (e.g. Restasis, Cequa, Xiidra) or corticosteroids (e.g. EYsuVIS) can help relieve inflammation on the ocular surface and increase tear production. Topical corticosteroids are usually used in short-term doses to relieve inflammation. 

    XDEMVY is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for Demodex blepharitis, a condition caused by Demodex mites that infest the eyelids. This prescription eye drop works by targeting and killing these mites, which can lead to significant relief from symptoms like redness, crusting, and irritation.

  • Eye Ointments

    Eye ointments are helpful for uncomfortable eyes when you wake up. Sometimes, you can have a small gap between your eyelids overnight. This is called Lagophthalmos and can lead to exposure and dryness. Eye ointments (e.g., Systane Gel) give soothing relief to your eyes overnight.

Concourse Optometry In-Office Dry Eye Treatment Options

  • Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL)

    Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment is designed to apply light therapy to the cascade of blood vessels (located along your cheeks/flanks of your nose), feeding inflammatory mediators to the meibomian glands along the eyelid margin. This treatment photo-disinfects bacteria and Demodex, desaturates meibum for expression, decreases inflammation in the treated areas, and increases mitochondrial activity in the glands for remaining meibomian gland preservation. It also stimulates collagen deposition in the periorbital skin.

      

  • Radiofrequency Therapy (RF)

    Radiofrequency (RF) treatment is a non-surgical procedure that targets the Meibomian glands, delivering controlled heat to melt the meibum oils to the proper consistency for expression. As an added benefit, RF treatment can also stimulate collagen production in the surrounding tissues. Collagen is a protein that provides structure and elasticity to the Meibomian glands and skin.  The increased production can lead to preservation of Meibomian glands and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. 

    RF treatment is often described as a "hot stone massage" for the eyes. The controlled heat applied to the eyelid area is generally well-tolerated by most patients. Unlike many other medical procedures, RF treatment requires no downtime, allowing you to resume your normal activities immediately following the session. While there may be some mild redness or warmth in the treated area immediately after the procedure, these effects typically subside within a short time. 

  • Blepharitis Treatment

    This treatment involves ZEST eyelid scrubs to thoroughly clean the eyelid margin with Zocular’s okra gel.

    This treatment can be done alone or in conjunction with our in office heat treatments  (Intense Pulse Light Therapy and/or Radiofrequency) and eyelid margin debridement. The heat treatment and debridement treats the clogged glands and removes skin that may be growing over the gland orifices to allow optimum oil flow. The manual expression is done with a Mastroda paddle to allow for a thorough expression.

  • Punctal Occlusion

    For patients with severe aqueous-deficient dry eye, punctal occlusion can provide significant relief. Punctal occlusion involves blocking the tiny openings in the inside corners of the eyelids that drain tears. This can help retain more tears on the eye's surface.

    There are two main types of punctal occlusion: temporary plugs made of dissolvable materials and semi-permanent plugs made of silicone or hydrogel. Temporary plugs can last from one week to three months, while semi-permanent plugs are removable if needed.

Schedule a Medical Dry Eye Evaluation Now