Dry Eye Therapy

Dry Eye Relief at Lake Norman Eye Care

If you have a sensation of something foreign in your eye or you’re finding that your eyes are getting tired faster, you may have dry eye. Dry eye can be caused by various factors, including excess screen time, environmental issues, and tear production problems.

We want to help you understand and find relief from dry eye symptoms through innovative treatment methods including OptiLight by Lumenis and iLUX.

Our team is focused on providing solutions for your dry eye problems—contact us to schedule your appointment today.

Book Appointment

Understanding Dry Eye

Your tears are comprised of 3 layers:

The oily outer layer
The watery middle layer
The inner mucus layer

Dry eyes can occur when the glands that produce these elements of your tears are not functioning properly or become inflamed. Inflammation of these glands can also cause meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD can reduce oil production, causing water to evaporate and accelerating dryness.

Our Dry Eye Treatments

We offer a wide range of dry eye treatments to help you find relief from dry eye symptoms. Once we conduct a thorough eye exam, our team can start developing your personalized treatment plan.

Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are over-the-counter eye drops that can help relieve mild cases of dry eyes. Low-viscosity artificial tears are watery and can provide quick relief. In comparison, high-viscosity artificial tears are more gel-like and provide longer-lasting relief.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs help manage dry eyes when your tears are draining from your eyes too quickly. Punctal plugs are tiny devices that are placed into your tear ducts to slow down how fast tears leave the surface of your eyes.

Punctal plugs typically come in temporary or dissolving and semi-permanent types.

OptiLight by Lumenis

OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, non-invasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. The first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.

The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

iLUX Thermal Pulsation

The iLux handheld device is a treatment method that uses an LED-based heat source to gently warm the inner and outer surfaces of the eyelids to clear blockages in the oil glands. This treatment method addresses dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction.

BlephEx

BlephEx is an in-office procedure that treats inflammation of the eyelids. This inflammation can be caused by meibomian gland dysfunction and clogged oil glands.

BlephEx helps clean the accumulated bacterial biofilm along the edge of your eyelids and eyelashes to promote a stable tear film. The procedure lasts around 6 to 8 minutes, and you may feel a slight tickling sensation during treatment.

Our team can help determine a BlephEx schedule to maximize your comfort.

Scleral Contact Lenses

Scleral lenses differ from traditional contact lenses and are larger, resting on the sclera, or white, of your eyes. Scleral lenses vault over the cornea, creating a hydration reservoir in the space between the lens and the eye.

Scleral lenses can be an excellent option if dry eye prevents you from wearing traditional contacts.

Protecting Your Eye Health

Dry eyes can be challenging to manage, and practicing good habits like wearing sunglasses and changing work habits can help. Our team strives to help you overcome dry eye symptoms and find relief through innovative treatment methods.

Contact us to schedule an appointment and address your dry eye symptoms today.

Book Appointment