WHAT IS DRY EYE CONDITION?
Dry eyes develop when there’s a problem with your natural tears. You may not produce enough tears, or they may evaporate too quickly. Dry eyes also occur when your tears don’t contain the right amount of each essential component.
Tears are more than just water; they contain mucus, fatty oils, and numerous proteins, and other beneficial substances. Your tears are made up of three layers, which are collectively known as the tear film.
What are the types of Dry Eye Disease?
Aqueous deficiency dry eye
There is inadequate production of tears.
Evaporative dry eye
The tears evaporate rapidly due to inadequate surface lipid layer.
Mixed dry eye
Some people have aqueous tear deficiency and tear instability due to increased evaporation of tears.
What are the Treatment options for Dry Eye Condition?
- Artificial Tears: The most common treatment for mild dry eye is instillation of lubricating eye drops or eye gels called artificial tears.
- Nutritional Supplements: Oral supplements of Omega -3 fatty acids and vitamins can also decrease the dry eye symptoms.
- Punctal Plugs: These are small silicone or gel-like plugs inserted into the tear ducts to block drainage and keep natural tears in the eyes longer, increasing moisture and reducing dryness..
- Anti-Inflammatory Medications: Steroid eye drops or oral medications may be prescribed to reduce inflammation in the eyes, which can alleviate symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
- Eyelid Hygiene: Regular eyelid hygiene, including warm compresses and lid scrubs, can help keep the eyelids clean and prevent blockages of the meibomian glands, which contribute to dry eye.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy, which has been traditionally used as a cosmetic procedure for treating facial skin conditions, effectively treats chronic dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). In fact, IPL Therapy is among the more groundbreaking treatments for dry eye.
While some patients notice an improvement in dry eye symptoms following their first or second IPL treatment, it is generally recommended they undergo a series of four IPL treatments, performed monthly over 2-4 months. This ensures long-term success in treating both chronic dry eye syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Depending on the severity of their dry eye condition, certain patients may require occasional maintenance treatments following the initial series of IPL treatments. It is not unusual to combine IPL treatments with other dry eye therapies in order to optimize effectiveness and promote healing.
