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Dry Eyes Toowoomba | Dry Eyes Highfields

Dry Eye

Dry eye is a very common problem for Australians, especially Queenslanders who live in hot, dusty and dry environments.

Please feel free to download and complete the following questionnaire prior to your appointment Dry Eye Questionnaire

Dry Eye Symptoms

Symptoms of dry eye include, itchiness (particularly in the corner of the eyes), stinging or burning, redness, tired eyes (and the feeling that they need to be closed to bring relief). In some instances they may also include occasional blurred vision and mucus around the eyelids.

Some eye allergies can have similar symptoms to dry eye and be difficult to differentiate.  Our optometrists will be able to determine whether the problem is dry eye or an allergy or a combination of both.

Dry Eye Causes

Finding the cause is an essential part of managing the problem, as sometimes there can be a systemic cause, which can be difficult to treat.

The leading cause of dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction. The meibomian glands surround the eye on the inner eyelid. In some patients these glands can become blocked so they do not secrete enough oil into the tears. The tears then evaporate too quickly and the eyes become dry. To assess whether you have this problem, our optometrists will take scans of your eyelids called meibography to see the number and quality of your meobomian glands.

meibography image for Dry Eye assessment - Neilson Eyecare

meibography image for Dry Eye assessment – Neilson Eyecare

Other causes include poor tear production and quality, incomplete blinking, blepharitis (inflammation and infection of the eyelids and eyelashes), after some surgeries and from certain medications. The wearing of contact lenses and the incorrect removal of eye make up, can also be contributors.

Dry eye is more common in women over the age of 40 and can be exacerbated in air-conditioned environments, such as an office, and by lengthy screen use.  The harder the eyes work, the less they blink which makes the problem worse.

Dry Eye Treatment

Our optometrists will seek to understand the cause of a patient’s dry eye and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Depending on the severity of dry eye, our optometrists can prescribe certain prescription eye drops to treat inflammation and infection.

At Neilson Eyecare, we offer a variety of management options, such as IPL therapy (Intense Pulsed Light), eye drops, eyelid cleansers and heated eye masks such as Blephasteam.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy

Optima intense pulsed light (IPL) is a first-of-its-kind light-based treatment specifically designed for dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction.

Unlike conventional treatments that work within the eye, Optima IPL uses advanced technology to deliver a controlled amount of intense pulsed light on the cheeks, nose and below the lower eyelids. This process destroys the abnormal blood vessels that perpetuate inflammation, restoring homeostasis.

Optimal pulse technology (OPT) gives operators the ability to control the pulse shape so they can customise treatment to the patient’s skin type, and patients report that treatments are gentle thanks to a continuously cooled handpiece designed for enhanced comfort.

There is minimal downtime, and signs and symptoms of inflammation can improve as soon as after two to three treatments.

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IPL Dry Eye Treatment - Neilson Eyecare

IPL Dry Eye Treatment – Neilson Eyecare

 

Blephasteam

Blephasteam is a gentle heat goggle worn on the eyes, in our practice rooms, for up to 15 minutes. The heat assists in melting the oil in the clogged glands.

Blephasteam - Dry Eye Treatment - Neilson Eyecare

Blephasteam – Dry Eye Treatment – Neilson Eyecare

 

Manuka honey

Manuka honey in an eye drop form has been very successful for many of our patients in reducing the inflammation associated with dry eye and blepharitis. Some of our patients have been using this for over 10 years.

Other Options

Our Optometrists are therapeutically trained, which means they can prescribe eye medication such as antibiotics, antiviral and anti inflammatory eye drops if necessary. We also stock a range of lubricating eye drops and solutions to help with dry eye symptoms. In addition we can offer advice on lifestyle and diet that can help to alleviate dry eye symptoms.

Eye drops and solutions - Neilson Eyecare

Eye drops and solutions – Neilson Eyecare

Patients can find more information on the Dry Eye website – https://nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye/dryeye

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