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Rockyview Health Centre, 1011 Glenmore Trail SW Building #1 Suite 423, Calgary, AB T2V 4R6, Canada
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What Causes Dry Eyes and How to Treat Them Effectively

dry eye causes and treatments

Dry eyes can make your eyes feel itchy, burning, or tired. They can also cause blurry vision. Dry eye treatment in SW Calgary alleviates discomfort and protects your eyes from further damage. If you know what causes dry eyes and how to treat dry eyes, then you will have healthy vision.

Why Do Dry Eyes Happen?

When your eyes fail to produce sufficient tears or your tears dry up too quickly, you have dry eyes. Common reasons include:

  • Getting older
  • Spending too much time on screens
  • Certain medicines
  • Dry or windy weather

Finding the cause helps you choose the right treatment.

How Can an Optometrist Help?

An optometrist in SW Calgary can examine your eyes and determine why they are dry. They can recommend the appropriate treatments or lifestyle changes. Regular eye exams will catch issues in their early stages.

What Treatments Are Available Near You?

When you have dry eyes, there are several dry eye treatment near you to choose from. We have listed a few of the below:

  • Special eye drops
  • Tear duct plugs
  • Anti-inflammatory medicines
  • Contact lenses for retaining moisture

These can be used for immediate relief and to promote long-term eye health.

Can Home Remedies Help?

Home remedies for dry eyes relief will help you get relief from irritation. Some things you can try are:

  • Warm compresses on your eyes
  • Over-the-counter lubricating drops
  • Blinking often, especially during screen time
  • Drinking plenty of water

When combined with professional care, home remedies work best.

What Are Long-Term Solutions for Chronic Dry Eyes?

For chronic dry eyes, choosing the best long-term solutions can help keep your eyes healthy. Some of the things you can do are:

  • Treatments from your optometrist
  • Home care with a humidifier
  • Daily eye test and individualized care plan

They can both prevent more serious issues and encourage comfort.

Take Care of Your Eyes

Dry eyes don’t have to be uncomfortable. You can do a lot to feel your best and protect your eyesight with the right care and some simple things at home. Treating dry eyes early gives the best results.

If your eyes are dry, pay a visit to our team at Eyedeology Optometry. Our professionals will check your eyes and find a treatment solution that will give you lasting relief.

Schedule a call with our optometry clinic near you to protect your dry eyes.

👓 Ready for clearer vision? Get directions to Eyedeology Optometry.

FAQs

+ What are the main causes of dry eyes?

Your eyes can get dry when:

  • They don't have enough tears
  • When your tears evaporate too fast

A few common causes would include situations like:

  • Getting older,
  • Staring at screens,
  • Some medicines,
  • Dry or windy weather
+ How is dry eye treatment performed at an optometrist clinic?
At an optometry clinic, the optometrist will check your eyes and find the cause of dryness. Treatments may include special eye drops, plugs to keep tears in, or advice on eye care habits.
+ Are there lifestyle changes that can reduce dry eye symptoms?
Yes. Simple changes can help, like taking breaks from screens, blinking often, drinking more water, using a humidifier at home, and wearing sunglasses in wind or sun.
+ Can children experience dry eyes and require treatment?
Yes. Dry eyes afflict children as well, usually through overuse of screens or allergy. An optometrist can have them checked out and can provide safe remedies to make them comfortable.

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Supporting Ocular Surface Healing and Comfort

The membrane contains natural growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. When placed over the cornea, it acts as a protective layer that supports healing and may help reduce inflammation.

Potential Benefits

  • Supports Healing: Helps promote natural healing of the eye’s surface.
  • Reduces Inflammation: Its natural properties may help calm inflammation.
  • Improves Comfort: May help relieve discomfort related to dry eye.
  • Supports Recovery: Helps support the healing of the ocular surface.

Who May Benefit?

Amniotic Membrane Therapy may be suitable for people with moderate to severe dry eye, particularly when conventional treatments have not provided enough relief. An eye care professional can assess your eyes and determine if this treatment is appropriate.

How Does It Work?

The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placenta and contains growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. During treatment, a specially prepared membrane is placed over the eye’s surface to act as a biological covering and support healing.

What to Expect

Before treatment, your optometrist will examine your eyes and determine whether Amniotic Membrane Therapy is suitable for you.

  • Before Treatment: The eye is numbed with topical anesthetic drops, and the area is prepared.
  • Membrane Placement: The preserved and sterilized membrane is placed over the cornea.
  • After Placement: A special contact lens may be used to hold the membrane in place.
  • Post-Treatment Care: Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops may be prescribed when needed.
  • Follow-Up: Regular visits help monitor healing and the membrane’s absorption or integration.
Some patients may experience mild discomfort, a foreign body sensation, or temporary blurred vision after treatment. Improvement in symptoms may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the individual.

Understanding Dry Eye and Your Treatment Options

Dry eye can develop for several reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is an important part of managing symptoms. Our team can assess your eyes and help develop a management plan based on your individual needs.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can affect both eyes and may cause different symptoms, including:

  • Stinging or Burning – A burning, stinging, or gritty feeling in the eyes.
  • Eye Redness – Red or irritated eyes.
  • Light Sensitivity – Increased sensitivity to light.
  • Excessive Watering – Eyes that water more than usual.
  • Blurred Vision or Eye Fatigue – Blurry vision or tired, strained eyes.
  • Foreign Body Sensation – A feeling that something is in your eye.

What Causes Dry Eye?

A healthy tear film has several components that work together to keep the surface of the eye comfortable and protected. Dry eye can occur when tear production decreases or when tears evaporate too quickly.

Several factors may contribute to dry eye, including:

  • Aging
  • Allergies
  • Hormonal changes
  • Eyelid problems
  • Gland dysfunction
  • Certain health conditions
  • Living in a dry climate
  • Extended screen time

One common factor is blockage of the Meibomian glands, which produce the lipid layer of the tear film. When these glands are not functioning properly, tear evaporation can increase and contribute to dry eye symptoms.

A Personalized Approach to Dry Eye Management

Managing dry eye involves more than simply using eye drops. Our team can help develop a personalized plan that may include targeted in-office treatments, nutritional guidance, and home care based on your needs. 

Home care may include:

  • Warm Compresses: Used as part of a regular eye-care routine.
  • Lid Hygiene: Keeping the eyelids and surrounding area clean.
  • Artificial Tears: May be recommended to help manage dryness and discomfort.

In-Office Treatment Options

For patients with more severe dry eye symptoms, targeted in-office treatments may be considered. Available options include:

  • Radiofrequency
  • Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
  • LipiFlow Therapy

These treatments may be used as part of dry eye management for symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, and irritation. The appropriate approach depends on the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms.

Managing Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye can have several contributing factors, so treatment is not the same for everyone. A thorough assessment can help identify factors affecting your tear film and determine which management options may be appropriate.

If you are experiencing persistent dryness, irritation, redness, light sensitivity, or other symptoms, speak with our eye care team about your dry eye management options.

Deep Cleansing for Healthier Eyelids and Lashes

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is an in-office eyelid cleaning and debridement treatment developed by Zocular®. It is designed to clean the eyelids and lashes while helping address concerns associated with dry eye, blepharitis, and demodex.

The treatment uses a natural, okra-based gel to remove oil, debris, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes. By improving eyelid hygiene, ZEST can help reduce the buildup that may contribute to irritation and inflammation around the eyes.

What Is ZEST?

ZEST works like a deep cleansing treatment for the eyelids and lashes. During the procedure, the okra-based gel is applied along the eyelid margins and lashes using a cotton swab. The gel is gently worked into a lather using circular motions before being rinsed away with saline solution.
The gel contains a refined extract of okra, an edible green seed pod. According to the provided product information, okra helps lift and clear oil, debris, and residue while being gentle around the eye area.

How Can ZEST Help?

Keeping the eyelids, eyelid margins, and lashes clean is an important part of eye hygiene. Buildup along the eyelid edges can contribute to symptoms such as itching, burning, gritty sensations, redness, and irritation.

ZEST is designed to address this buildup through thorough cleansing and debridement.

  • Removes Debris: Helps clear dirt, oil, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes.
  • Supports Eyelid Hygiene: Provides a deeper cleansing treatment than routine eyelid cleaning.
    Addresses Demodex: The treatment is designed to help remove demodex mites and associated debris.
  • Helps Reduce Inflammation: Cleansing the eyelid area may help address buildup associated with irritation and inflammation.
  • Supports Dry Eye Care: ZEST may help relieve symptoms associated with dry eye and poor eyelid hygiene.

ZEST for Dry Eye, Blepharitis, and Demodex

Dry eye and blepharitis can be associated with inadequate eyelid hygiene. Debris along the eyelid margins can enter the tear film with blinking, potentially contributing to redness and irritation.

Demodex mites can also be present in the hair follicles around the eyelashes. According to the provided information, they may contribute to inflammation and dry eye symptoms by blocking the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes.

ZEST provides targeted cleansing of the eyelid margins and lashes to help remove this buildup and address demodex-related concerns.

A Simple In-Office Treatment

The ZEST procedure is performed in the office and involves applying the cleansing gel to the eyelid margins and lashes, working it into a lather, and then rinsing the area with saline solution. The treatment is designed to provide thorough eyelid and lash cleansing without requiring a lengthy procedure.

Is ZEST Right for You?

ZEST may be considered for patients experiencing symptoms associated with dry eye, blepharitis, demodex, or eyelid debris. An eye care professional can assess your symptoms and determine whether ZEST is appropriate for your eye care needs.
587-317-2134