Dry Eye

Dry eyes can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, from redness and itchiness to blurred vision. Frequent dry eyes can signal dry eye syndrome, a complex disease that affects more than 16 million people in the United States.1 While dry eyes are common, it is important to see an experienced ophthalmologist for treatment that will relieve symptoms and prevent dry eye complications.

The eye doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants are committed to helping patients in the Hampton Roads area find relief from dry eye symptoms. We are certified by TearLab as an Accredited Dry Eye Center and our dry eye specialists utilize advanced techniques to diagnose and treat patients with dry eye disease.

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

When the human eye is functioning properly, it keeps the surface of the eye well lubricated. Everyone may experience occasional dry eyes as the result of an arid climate, having a fan near your face, or seasonal allergies. However, if your eyes are not producing enough lubricating tears, then you may have frequent dry eye symptoms which are classified as dry eye syndrome or dry eye disease. Chronic dry eyes are uncomfortable and can interfere with everyday tasks and overall quality of life. If dry eye syndrome is misdiagnosed or left untreated, it can lead to more serious eye diseases.

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Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye syndrome can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including:

  • Redness
  • Irritation and the feeling that there is something in your eye
  • Itchiness
  • Burning or stinging
  • Stringy mucus or discharge
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Watery eyes (this may seem counterintuitive, but your lacrimal glands can respond to dryness by overproducing tears)

If you are suffering with dry eye symptoms, our experienced dry eye doctors can help. We offer a variety of treatment options and we can develop a personalized treatment plan for you. Contact us to schedule an appointment in Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, or Virginia Beach.

Dry Eye Causes

While dry eyes can affect anyone of any age, there are factors that can contribute to the development of dry eye syndrome, including:

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

Meibomian gland dysfunction is often attributed as the cause of dry eye disease. These glands are responsible for producing the outer layer of lipids (oil) on the tear film. The lipid layer is what can stop the tears from evaporating too soon. If the meibomian glands are not functioning properly, they can become inflamed and infiltrated with bacteria. These effects can ultimately lead to redness, pain and discomfort in the eyes, swollen eyelids, and vision blurriness.

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How is Dry Eye diagnosed?

Often, our eye doctors are able to diagnose dry eyes by simply examining the eyes. Sometimes tests to measure tear production are necessary. One of the latest devices in dry eye technology is the TearLab Osmolarity System. By using the TearLab, the dry eye doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants can quickly and painlessly measure a small sample of your tears to determine how dry they truly are. Using just a nanoliter of tear fluid, the osmolarity data that the TearLab gathers allows patients to understand their “level” of disease. Your unique tear number will also allow your doctor to decipher the best means of treatment for you.

Another diagnostic tool that our dry eye specialists use to determine if a patient has dry eye disease is the LipiScan Dynamic Meibomian Imager. This innovative device is a meibomian gland imager that delivers high-definition images of meibomian gland structure. LipiScan allows your eye doctor to quickly and accurately assess the health of your meibomian glands.

eye drops for dry eyes

Dry Eye Treatment

Virginia Eye Consultants is happy to offer a variety of dry eye treatments to help patients achieve their best possible outcomes. This includes advanced options like the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System as well as the TrueTear™ Intranasal Tear Neurostimulator. The first line of treatment for many patients is over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears to lubricate the eyes and replace the missing moisture. Drops may be used as often as necessary, but opt for preservative-free drops if you use them very often. Solid inserts that gradually release lubricants during the day are also beneficial to some patients.

Advanced Treatment Options for Dry Eyes

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LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System

The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System reduces the need for artificial tears and other prescription dry eye treatments by attending to the cause of evaporative dry eye symptoms, the meibomian glands themselves.

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iLux®

Unlike at-home warm compresses that need to be applied daily to provide any true relief from dry eye symptoms caused by meibomian gland blockages, treatment with the FDA-approved iLux device can clear clogged meibomian glands in as little as one 15-minute session. When positioned over the eyelids, the iLux device delivers constant therapeutic heat and mild pressure to soften buildup within the meibomian glands. Most patients find treatment comfortable and even relaxing, and it is followed by a gentle massage to express excess oil and debris from the meibomian glands. iLux treatment offers immediate relief and absolutely no recovery time, and dry eye symptoms will continue to improve in the weeks following treatment.
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TearCare®

TearCare is a revolutionary dry eye treatment that works to unblock clogged meibomian glands during a single comfortable session. Patients simply relax in our office while wearing the TearCare device, which allows them to keep their eyes open and blink naturally as therapeutic heat is constantly applied to the meibomian glands. After roughly 15 minutes with the TearCare device, the physician gently massages the eyelids to clear away blockages and removes debris from the eye.

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Treatment with TearCare provides immediate and lasting relief from uncomfortable dry eye symptoms. In fact, clinical research shows that only 12 minutes of treatment with the TearCare device provides more relief than weeks or months of warm compresses.2
Learn More About TearCare

Blepharitis Lid Treatment with BlephEx

Many patients with dry eye have blepharitis. This is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the eyelids caused by an overgrowth of normal bacteria along the base of the eyelashes. This overgrowth produces a film that traps debris along the eyelashes and harbors bacterial exotoxins along the eyelids, causing inflammation that affects the tear glands, slowing down tear production. With fewer tears, more bacteria accumulate, leading to chronic irritation and dry eye. This condition, left untreated, can lead to significant damage to the eyelids and tear glands.

At Virginia Eye Consultants, we offer BlephEx, the first clinical treatment available for blepharitis. Previously, patients with this condition relied on home eyelid scrubs that were not always effective. BlephEx allows you to relax while our eye care professionals thoroughly clean the eyelid area with this specialized device that removes debris and bacteria with gentle precision.
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MiBo Thermoflo®

MiBo Thermoflo® is a therapeutic device for the treatment of dry eye that uses a thermoelectric heat mechanism to loosen obstructed secretions and improve meibomian gland function to help eliminate the evaporative component of dry eye. The process works with gentle, ocular massage in a comfortable, even relaxing, treatment to create enhanced tear film.

This treatment has been shown to help clear meibomian glands of obstruction and increase lipid health and function. It is a comfortable, effective, convenient and affordable treatment.
Learn More About MiBo Thermoflo

Contact Virginia Eye Consultants

We invite you to call and learn more about dry eye treatments and procedures. Contact us now to schedule your consultation with one of our dry eye doctors and learn about your options to treat dry eye.

1 Prevalence of Diagnosed Dry Eye Disease in the United States Among Adults Aged 18 Years and Older. American Journal of Ophthalmology. October 2017 Volume 182, Pages 90–98
2 Badawi D. A novel system, TearCare®, for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018;12:683-694. Published 2018 Apr 10. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S160403. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5903489/. Accessed February 9, 2021.

The doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants have either authored or reviewed the content on this site.

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