Advanced Dry Eye Treatments by Advanced Eye Physician
If you often suffer from dry, irritated, burning, or gritty eyes, you may have dry eyes. Dry eyes are a common and chronic condition that occur when the eyes lack appropriate lubrication. Besides being uncomfortable, dry eyes can lead to long-term complications like infection and corneal damage if left untreated.
Ultimately, dry eyes occur when there is a problem with your tear production. Those with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears, or their tears are of poor quality.
Every time you blink, the tear film spreads across the surface of your eyes. Those with dry eyes develop holes in the tear film, which exposes their corneal nerves to irritation from the air or blinking.
Although you may not think about them much, tears are essential for protecting and nourishing your eyes and focusing light. A chronic problem with your tear film creates long-term discomfort and pain.
Dry eyes can occur due to various reasons:
Age. As we age, our eyes undergo natural changes. These changes may impact our ability to produce tears or may change the makeup of our tears. Because of these changes, dry eyes are a common condition in those over 65.
Hormonal changes. Women who use oral contraceptives, are pregnant, or going through menopause are more likely to develop dry eyes caused by specific hormonal fluctuations.
Medications. Some medications, like antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants, can reduce tear production and cause dry eyes.
Medical conditions. Those with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid problems are more likely to develop dry eyes. Problems with inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis) and the surfaces of the eye or the inward or outward turning of eyelids can also cause dry eyes.
Environmental conditions. Smokey, windy, and dry climates can increase tear evaporation and cause dry eye symptoms. Failure to blink regularly, such as when working on a computer, can also contribute to dry eyes.
Other factors: Long-term contact lens use and laser eye surgery can contribute to dry eye
At Advanced Eye Physician, we offer cutting-edge, industry-leading dry eye therapies to provide you with long-term comfort.
To fully understand and treat your dry eyes, you will first need a comprehensive eye exam. There is no “one size fits all” approach to treating dry eyes, so an eye exam gives us a good idea of how best to approach your unique needs.
Lumenis Optilight IPL
OptiLight by Lumenis is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment for dry eye symptoms caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. This non-invasive procedure is the first and only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye management.
OptiLight uses precise pulses of light, done in the area below the eyes, to reduce dry eye symptoms. This 10-15 minute procedure can significantly relieve dry eye symptoms by:
Increasing tear break-up time
Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
Improving meibomian gland functionality
IPL is an in-office treatment that uses particular wavelengths of light to target precise areas around the eyes to reduce inflammation. This light also produces a gentle heat to clear blocked meibomian glands and encourage meibum secretion. By promoting meibum secretion and reducing inflammation, your dry eye symptoms will improve.
Our team at Advanced Eye Physician is here to help you find relief from dry eyes. We always strive to offer our patients a comprehensive eye care experience, and our treatments reflect that.
Your tears drain through tiny ducts called puncta. Dry eyes can be treated using punctal plugs, small devices inserted into the puncta to prevent your tears (or artificial tears) from draining.
We can insert punctal plugs in our office in a few minutes. Your eyes may be numbed before insertion, but you will be able to immediately return to your daily activities.
PROKERA®
PROKERA® is an FDA-approved medical device used to reduce inflammation and corneal scarring caused by moderate and extreme dry eyes and promote healing.
An amniotic membrane is placed over the corneal surface, held by a small polycarbonate ring, over several days. This tissue promotes corneal healing while providing comfort from dry eye symptoms. The PROKERA® device is similar to a contact lens. You may be aware of the ring, but it should not hurt.
We can insert PROKERA® during your appointment. This device comes with special instructions that our eye physicians will carefully go over with you during your visit.
Find Dry Eye Comfort at Advanced Eye Physician
Dry eyes are easily diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam. The treatment plan for your eyes depends on the root cause of your dry eyes. Our eye physicians can determine the cause of your dry eyes and design a personalized treatment plan for you during your exam. Please do not hesitate to find comfort and book your appointment today.
Where Can You Find Us?
Manhattan
Find our Manhattan office in the heart of Chinatown, near Little Italy, on the corner of Grand Street and Elizabeth Street.
