Dry eyes are a constant annoyance for millions. That scratchy, gritty feeling, the constant need to blink – it disrupts your day and can make focusing a chore.
But what if there was a way to ditch the eye drops and find lasting relief?
Luckily, our expert, Sachin Patel, has the knowledge and insight to help. We were recently featured in The Telegraph, spreading the word about our new innovated treatment. In case you missed it, this blog post will explore what we spoke about: the science behind dry eye and advanced, long-term solutions offered at Safarian & Simon.
Understanding dry eye and its symptoms
Dry eyes occur when there’s an imbalance in your tear film. This tear film is a complex three-layered system crucial for eye health, as it keeps your eyes lubricated, fights off infection, and helps maintain clear vision. When any of these layers are compromised, dry eye symptoms arise.
There are two main culprits behind dry eye:
Decreased tear production: Age, medications, and certain medical conditions can all reduce tear production, leaving your eyes feeling dry and irritated.
Evaporative dry eye: This is where the tears you do produce evaporate too quickly. Often, this is due to blocked meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of your tear film. This oily layer helps slow tear evaporation and keeps your eyes lubricated.
The limitations of traditional dry eye treatments
Over-the-counter artificial tears are a common first line of defence. While they can provide temporary relief, they don’t address the root cause of the problem. Frequent use can even irritate your eyes further, especially if they contain preservatives. For many, artificial tears become a never-ending cycle, offering fleeting comfort without lasting solutions.
However, dry eye expert Sachin Patel can offer a solution. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on managing symptoms, Sachin utilises a holistic approach to dry eye. By thoroughly examining your individual case and identifying the underlying cause, Sachin can recommend the most effective treatment plan to achieve lasting relief and improved eye health.
A revolution in dry eye treatment at Safarian & Simon
Here are the treatments offered by the experts at Safarian & Simon.
FDA-Approved Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Safarian & Simon Opticians is proud to be the only optician in the area offering FDA-approved IPL treatment for dry eye. This innovative approach harnesses the power of targeted light pulses.
Gentle pulses of light penetrate deep into the tissues surrounding your meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oil layer in your tears. By targeting these glands, IPL reduces inflammation that can hinder gland function. This reduction in inflammation stimulates your meibomian glands, promoting healthier oil production for a more stable tear film.
As a result, the patient experiences reduced dryness, improved comfort, and a potential decrease in reliance on eye drops. It can also improve your skin tone!
Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) Meibomask
Our LLLT Meibomask treatment utilises low-level light therapy. This soothing treatment delivers increased blood flow and provide optimum temperature to the meibomian glands.
This will allow the glands to melt better for when we express the glands at the end. The LLLT Meibomask treatment is a comfortable and relaxing experience, offering a non-invasive option for dry eye relief. It is also great of sudden stye and chalazion and can be repeated every few days.
Meibomian Gland Probing
For cases of dry eye caused by blocked meibomian glands, Sachin Patel will recommend meibomian gland probing. This specialised procedure is a minimally invasive approach that utilises a microscopic, sterile probe to gently clear any blockages within the glands.
By clearing the blockages, the probe allows the natural oils to flow freely again, promoting optimal tear quality. Meibomian gland probing can significantly improve tear production and alleviate dry eye symptoms for a longer period.
Lacrimal Syringing
In some cases, blocked tear ducts can contribute to dry eyes. Lacrimal syringing is a specialised procedure that addresses this issue. Our team uses a gentle saline solution to carefully flush the tear drainage system. This flushing action helps to clear any blockages that may be preventing tears from draining properly or when the tears are flushing properly which leads to ‘toxic tears’.
Gland Expression
Gland expression is a manual technique that can provide immediate relief from dry eye symptoms. Our experienced team gently applies pressure to the eyelids, helping to express any trapped oils from the meibomian glands.
By releasing the trapped oils, gland expression improves the quality and stability of your tear film. The expressed oils help to lubricate your eyes, offering immediate relief from dryness and irritation.
BlephEx or ZEST
Both BlephEx and ZEST treatments provide a deep clean of your eyelids, removing bacteria, debris, and crusting that can hinder tear production and exacerbate dry eye. By removing these irritants, BlephEx and ZEST can help reduce inflammation on the eyelid margins, promoting a healthier environment for tear production. Regular eyelid cleaning with BlephEx or ZEST helps prevent future blockages and keeps your tear film functioning optimally.
Punctal Plugs
Sometimes we will insert a small sponge into your tear ducts, smaller than a grain of rice! This is stop the tears leaving your eyes too quickly, it is non-invasive and we will typically use a semi-permanent one which dissolves in a few week to see if helps.
Aminotic Membrane Contact lenses
This revolutionary treatment allows the cornea to heal, the cornea has all the nerves which become sensitive and makes you aware of the dry eye. By applying an amniotic membrane contact lenes for around 7 days and night, the cornea will heal. This is great for those with neuropathic dry eye i.e. the eye looks normal but the patient feels the dryness.
We often receive referrals from eye surgeon to undertake pre and post-surgical dry eye treatment, particularly for cataract and laser eye surgery, by optimising the tear film, the end results are much better.
Majority of our patients will need all the above combined at the initial stage to really give the dry eyes a push in the right direction but our treatment plan will be tailored. With our advanced technology to image the eye and knowledge, you will always get the best treatment for your dry eyes!
Don’t just manage dry eyes, eliminate them!
Dry eyes don’t have to be a part of your life. At Safarian & Simon], we offer advanced solutions that go beyond the drops and provide lasting relief.
Schedule an appointment today and experience the difference Safarian & Simon can make for your eye health and overall well-being.
