Dry Eyes Treatment Perth
Dry eyes
Dry eye disease (medically known as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca) is a condition that develops when your eyes do not produce and maintain enough tears to keep the eye’s surface lubricated.
Dry eyes affects 20% of adults (mostly female) and may result in multiple symptoms from mild eye irritation through to pain and blurred vision.
Muscles that move the eyelid and eye.
What causes dry eyes
Dry eyes can be caused due to a reduction in tear production or increased tear evaporation from a lack of lipid in the tears that stem from oil glands in the eyelids. Dry eye symptoms include:
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- Minor eye dryness
- Itchy or irritated eyes
- Burning or stinging eye sensation
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Pain
- Foreign body sensation
- Frequent eye infections.
The function of tears
The main function of tears (tear film) is to maintain the health of the cornea of your eye by washing away foreign matter and ensuring that the surface of your eye remains moist, smooth and clear. Tears also contain enzymes that protect your eyes from bacteria that can cause infections.
The tear film is essentially made up of three main layers:
1. Mucin layer which binds to the surface of the eye allowing it to wet properly
2. Aqueous (watery) layer providing the bulk of tears
3. Protective oil/lipid (watery) layer which spreads across the surface of the tear film and limits evaporation. As the tear film is directly exposed to air, this protective layer s essential to maintaining a healthy tear film on the surface of the eye.
Dry eyes can develop when the amount of tears produced is not sufficient to maintain the moisture balance in your eye. In an effort to fight off the condition, dry eyes may cause you to produce excessive tears, which is why some people experience watery eyes.
Dry eye quick facts
Dry eyes can occur:
- Naturally as a result of ageing
- Due to hormonal changes – typically in women who are pregnant, taking oral contraceptives or going through menopause
- To women aged over 50 (women have a 50% greater risk of dry eye disease than men of the same age)
- From taking certain medications that reduce tear production such as antihistamines, blood pressure medications and antidepressants.
- Due to environmental factors – Dry, dusty and windy weather.
- Due to home air conditioners or heating systems
- Due to excessive time spent staring at a computer or television screens due to the lack of blinking while staring at the screens.
Individuals that suffer from certain medical conditions such as diabetes, blepharitis, lupus, arthritis and thyroid problems are more vulnerable to developing dry eyes. Other causes can be due to eye surgery including LASIK, certain conditions in which the eyelids don’t close properly or extended contact lens use.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Of the patients suffering from Dry Eye Disease, 86% have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) as their main cause. This is caused by blockage or disruption of the oil glands in the eyelids resulting in poor quality secretions onto the surface of the eye. This results in the protective lipid layer being inadequate, leading to Evaporative Dry Eye and all the resulting symptoms including blurred vision and discomfort.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a common, chronic inflammation of the eyelid. It is caused an overgrowth of bacteria which breakdown the natural oils around the eyelids causing inflammation. Anterior Blepharitis affects the base of the eyelashes whilst posterior blepharitis affects the meibomian glands, which are just behind the eyelashes.
Blephasteam and Meibomian Gland Expression
Blephasteam and Meibomian Gland Expression is used commonly to treat Blepharitis. Blephasteam provides electronically controlled moisture and heat therapy to unblock the meibomian gland. The procedure melts congested oil in the meibomian glands, enabling the clinician to then massage and squeeze out the debris. This treatment provides an environment that naturally enhances tear quality.
Intense pulse light (IPL) has been used in dermatology treatment for rosacea and acne. In dry eyes treatment, IPL with specific wavelength causes the blood cells in the abnormal telangiectasias (small blood vessels) to absorb light, coagulate, and finally, to close the vessels. This decreases both inflammatory mediators and bacterial overgrowth. These result improvement in Meibomian gland dysfunction/ocular rosacea and subsequent dry eye disease signs and symptoms.
At WA Eye Specialists, we can help patients maintain optimum eye health and reduce dry eye symptoms with our highly safe and effective IPL treatment plan with E Eye IPL or Lumenis M22 IPL for your need and Rexon Dry Eye treatment
Oculus Keratograph 5M
Lumenis M22 IPL
https://lumenis.com.au/vision/products/dry-eye-and-optima-ipl/
REXON-EYE
Rexon-Eye is the ultimate, non-invasive and durable treatment for all types of dry eye disease
REXON EYE stimulates the metabolism and the periocular glands (Meibomian glands/Lacrimal glands ) on a cell level, delivering a long-term relief to dry eye sufferers
To find out more
https://www.eyetek.com.au/product/rexon-eye.html
Dry Eyes Treatment Perth – WA Eye Specialists
Dry eyes may be caused by many different factors. Accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure underlying factor/s causing your dry eyes are addressed.
The team at WA Eye Specialists use state of the eye equipment including the New Oculus Keratograph 5M tool to assist with the dry eye assessment for accurate diagnosis and discuss all of the treatment options available to you.
“No referral is required for a Dry Eye Assessment”
If you have any questions about Dry Eyes or would like to book an appointment please:
Dry Eyes Treatment Perth
Our ophthalmologists treat a wide range of eye conditions including watery eyes. Our specialist doctors see patients for all over Perth including Armadale, Joondalup, Midland, Murdoch and South Perth.