Introduction
Dry eye disease is becoming increasingly common, affecting millions of people worldwide. This chronic condition can significantly impact your life, sometimes making even the smallest of tasks seem difficult.
If you have eye pain, blurry vision, and dry or watery eyes, it could be a sign that you have dry eye disease. But don’t worry! With an in-depth eye exam, our team can assess your vision and eye health to get you the treatment you need.
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease is a common eye condition that occurs when there is an issue with any one of the three components of your tears.
Your tears are made up of 3 distinct layers, all of which work together to keep your eyes healthy
- The oily layer prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly
- The watery layer delivers nutrients to your eyes
- The mucus layer keeps your tear film stuck to the surface of your eyes
What Are The 2 Types Of Dry Eye Disease?
There are two types of dry eye disease.
EDE is the most common type of dry eye disease. This type of dry eye occurs when you lack the proper amount of oil in your tears. When this happens, your tears can evaporate too quickly, drying out your eyes.
In some cases, EDE can be caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, a disorder where the meibomian glands in your eyes become blocked, limiting the amount of oil being produced for your tears.
If you suffer from ATD, your eyes lack the aqueous layer in your tears. This means that your eyes aren’t producing enough tears to keep the eye moist, which can lead to irritating and uncomfortable symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye syndrome can have negative effects on the outer surface of the eye. In this test, an orange dye called fluorescein is placed with a dropper onto the ocular surface & fluorescein uptake is measured & graded under cobalt blue light.
If you are suffering from dry eye disease, you may notice any of the following symptoms:
- A burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Irritated or overly-watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light or photophobia
- Eye redness, blurred vision, or eye fatigue
- A sensation of having something in your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your eye doctor to receive a dry eye disease diagnosis and get the treatment you need.
Dry Eye Treatments Available at Union Family Eye Associates
Zest
Zest (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is an innovative and effective in-office treatment for dry eye, blepharitis and demodex.
The procedure is painless, and it involves applying a natural okra-based gel to the eyelid margin and lashes with a cotton swab and cleaning in a circular motion, working the gel into a lather. Following the deep cleansing procedure, the gel is rinsed off with saline solution.
Okra is a powerful cleansing ingredient that is also gentle to use around the eye, helping to calm and soothe inflammation.
After only one treatment, patients will notice significant relief from the symptoms of dry eye and an improvement of the health and appearance of their eyes.
ZEST is now available at Union Family Eye Associates.
Book a consultation or give us a call on (704) 821-5009!
NuLids Lid Treatment
NuLids Pro is designed to help manage chronic dry eye conditions, including blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
Designed to effectively remove biofilm form the eyelid margins and eyelashes. NuLids Pro offers an all-natural effective, in-practice treatment for common eye conditions.
It works by gently cleaning the eyelids and stimulating the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the natural oils that keep your eyes lubricated. This helps reduce symptoms like dryness, redness, itchiness, and swelling.
NuLids Pro is now available at Union Family Eye Associates.