Dry Eye Treatment at Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates
If you're in Quinte West, Shannonville, Belleville, Brighton, Prince Edward or South East Ontario and experiencing symptoms like eye fatigue, watery eyes, irritation, or blurry vision, you may have dry eye. We offer comprehensive dry eye assessments and personalized treatment plans to help manage your condition. Our treatments consider factors like tear production, environmental influences, and screen time.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly, leading to discomfort and potentially further eye health issues. Tears are composed of three layers: the oily outer layer, the watery middle layer, and the inner mucus layer.
There are many symptoms of dry eye (including eye fatigue, blurry vision, a gritty sensation, mucus-like discharge, and light sensitivity). If left untreated, dry eyes can cause discomfort and even corneal damage.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eyes may leave you feeling a little irritated. You don’t have to experience all of the symptoms to seek relief.
Dry eyes can feel like and include the following symptoms:
- Scratching when you blink or a gritty sensation
- Feeling like there’s something in your eye
- Stinging or burning on your eyeball
- Blurred vision that varies when you blink
- Your eyes are watering too much
- Your eyes are tired a lot or strained (eye fatigue)
- Red eyes
- Stringy discharge or mucus
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Eye discomfort
- Excessively watery eyes
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Numerous health and environmental factors can lead to dry eyes. When your eyes don’t produce high-quality tears, the lubrication of your eye suffers. Your body could be underproducing tears, or they could be evaporating too quickly.
A common cause of dry eyes is meibomian gland dysfunction, which occurs when small glands in your eye don’t secrete the right amount of meibum, an oil that works with your tears to lubricate your eyes.
Factors that can cause dry eyes:
Age
The natural ageing process and hormonal changes can affect tear production
Medical conditions
Allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and more
Contact lenses
Prolonged use can dry out our eyes
Laser eye surgery
Typically temporary following the procedure
Blinking less often and looking at a screen for a prolonged period
Low-quality eye drops
Many contain preservatives that can actually dry your eyes out
Environment
Wind, smoke, and dry air
Inflammation of oil glands behind the eyelids
What Is Digital Eye Strain And Dry Eye? Digital eye strain and dry eye are interconnected conditions often resulting from prolonged use of digital screens.
When we spend extended periods looking at screens, our blink rate decreases by up to 60%, leading to increased tear evaporation. This reduced blinking can cause or exacerbate dry eye disease, resulting in symptoms like eye fatigue, discomfort, and blurry vision. Managing screen time and taking regular breaks can help mitigate these effects.
MGD And Dry Eye
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition affecting the meibomian glands, which produce the oil layer of the tear film.
When these glands become clogged or inflamed, they can't produce enough oil to prevent tears from evaporating too quickly, leading to dry eye. Symptoms of MGD include dryness, grittiness, redness, and stinging sensations in the eyes.
What is Tear Production And Why is it Important to Dry Eye? The three layers involved in tear production are:
- The oily outer layer
- The watery middle layer
- The inner mucus layer
To study these layers and find the cause of dry eye, Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates in Belleville, Brighton, Trenton and Picton, Prince Edward, offer thorough dry eye assessments. This includes examining tear production and quality, as well as considering environmental factors and screen time.
What Is Our Dry Eye Assessment And Quiz?
The dry eye assessment at Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates involves a comprehensive evaluation to determine the root cause of your dry eyes.
Our team performs a series of diagnostic tests to assess your eyes and develop a tailored treatment or management plan. Additionally, a dry eye pre-screening quiz is offered to help determine if dry eyes may be the cause of your symptoms. This quiz can be taken to identify potential dry eye issues before undergoing a full assessment.
What Dry Eye Relief Is Offered By Dr. Bruce Coward And Associates?
Treatments include in-office therapies and the use of at-home products like Omega-3 supplements, Theoloz Duo drops, Bruder masks, and Ocunox eye ointment. We also provide access to CEQUA savings cards for additional support. Appointments can be booked online for your convenience.
In-Office Dry Eye Treatments
The in-office dry eye treatments offered at all Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates locations of Belleville, Brighton, Trenton, and Picton, Prince Edward, include
LipiFlow
Is a treatment that uses heat and light pressure to clear blockages in the meibomian glands, improving gland function.
LipiFlow is an in-office treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). It uses a small, handheld device that applies gentle heat and light pressure to the eyelids. This process warms the thickened meibum (oil), clogging the meibomian glands, allowing it to be removed. By clearing these blockages, LipiFlow helps improve gland function and can provide long-term relief from dry eye symptoms.
ZEST Treatments
Zocular Eyelid System Treatment for removing bacteria, debris, oil, and residue from the eyelids.
ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) relieves dry eye symptoms by gently exfoliating the eyelids to remove bacteria, debris, oil, and residue. This treatment can also help address Demodex issues, which can cause blepharitis and severe dry eye. ZEST aims to improve eyelid hygiene and reduce inflammation, relieving dry eye discomfort.
At-home Dry Eye Treatment Medicine
For at-home dry eye treatments, Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates advise patients to use the following products, which can be found in our online store.
These products are hand-picked by our doctors and are backed by science and published clinical studies.
The at-home dry eye treatments offered by Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates include
Bruder Masks
Warming masks to melt thickened meibum and improve meibomian gland function.
A Bruder mask is a therapeutic mask that uses gentle, warming heat to provide relief from dry eyes caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and blepharitis. The mask is heated in the microwave for about 20 seconds and then placed over the eyes for 10 minutes. The heat helps to melt thickened meibum, improving the function of the meibomian glands and slowing the evaporation rate of tears. Users are advised to gently massage through the mask with the palm of their hand every minute or so to express the warmed meibomian glands in the eyelids.
Thealoz Duo Drops
Eye drops containing trehalose and sodium hyaluronate to protect and hydrate the eyes.
Theoloz Duo eye drops are prescribed for patients with moderate to severe dry eye. They contain two significant ingredients: trehalose and sodium hyaluronate. Trehalose helps protect the eye’s epithelial cells, making them more resistant to stress from dry environments and tear film changes. Sodium hyaluronate helps retain water in the tears, hydrating and lubricating the eye's surface. Theoloz Duo drops are clinically proven to increase tear film thickness for up to 4 hours, with Theoloz Duo gel providing up to 6 hours of increased tear film thickness.
Blephaclean Wipes
Sterile lid wipes to reduce signs and symptoms of blepharitis
Blephaclean are preservative-free individual sterile lid wipes designed to help reduce the signs and symptoms of blepharitis. These wipes are used to maintain optimal ocular hygiene and are recommended to be used about 1 or 2 times daily per week.
Omega-3 PRN
Omega-3 supplements to improve tear film quality and prevent tear evaporation.
Omega-3 PRN (Physician Recommended Nutriceuticals) are supplements clinically proven to improve tear film quality and prevent tears from evaporating too quickly. These supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, which research has shown can significantly improve tear quality and relieve the signs and symptoms of dry eye. They are evaluated by Health Canada and recommended for individuals suffering from chronic or occasional dry eyes.
A cleansing gel for maintaining optimal ocular hygiene.
Blephagel Duo is a preservative-free cleansing gel that helps maintain optimal ocular hygiene. It is recommended to be used 1 or 2 times daily to keep the eyelids clean and reduce symptoms associated with conditions like blepharitis.
Zocular Foam
A natural eyelid cleanser that removes debris and soothes irritated eyes.
Zocular Foam is a natural eyelid cleanser formulated with okra complexes to address the root cause of irritated and dry eyes. It provides a soothing and calming action, efficiently removing debris on the lids and lashes to help manage dryness and discomfort. Additionally, Zocular Foam can help treat Demodex issues, which can cause blepharitis and severe dry eye. It is recommended to be used once daily for two months, then twice per week ongoing.
Ocunox Eye Ointment
An overnight ointment to protect the cornea and improve tear film.
Ocunox Eye Ointment is designed for overnight corneal protection, particularly since our eyes don't typically produce tears while sleeping. The ointment helps protect the surface of the eye and improve the tear film, providing long-lasting dry eye relief during the day. It is preservative, phosphate-free, and contains Vitamin A to enhance the tear film overnight. This helps prevent the cornea from drying out and maintains eye hydration and comfort.
Zaspray:
A spray for soothing, hydrating, and relieving dry eyes caused by allergies.
Zaspray is a 3-in-1 solution designed to soothe, hydrate, and relieve dry eyes caused by allergies. It contains natural plant extracts and sodium hyaluronate, which provide a lubricating effect to keep the eyes moisturized and comfortable throughout the day. Zaspray offers long-lasting relief from symptoms such as itchy, irritated, and red eyes.
Contact Dr. Bruce Coward and Associates, covering the counties of Peterborough, Prince Edward, Northumberland, and beyond, to book an appointment today and start enjoying relief from your dry eye symptoms.