Say Goodbye to Dry Eyes

Have you felt the stinging, gritty, or burning sensation of dry eyes? You’re not alone—millions of Canadians live with the irritation of dry eyes. From the dry air of winter to the drying effects of fans and air conditioners in the summer, the discomfort can seem endless.

Our doctors are experienced in both diagnosing and treating dry eye disease, including targeting its root cause with InMode Forma – I radiofrequency therapy, which also reduces fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

Learn more about dry eyes and book your appointment today.

Request an Appointment

Take Our Dry Eye Quiz

What Is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye disease happens when your tears aren’t able to adequately hydrate and lubricate your eyes. This leaves your eyes to dry out and become irritated or painful when you blink. It can also lead to very watery eyes and excessive tearing.

One of the most common causes of dry eye disease is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Your meibomian glands are responsible for contributing to the oil layer of your tears. When those glands become blocked or don’t work correctly, your tears may evaporate too quickly, leading to dry eyes.

Diagnosing Dry Eye Disease

The causes of dry eye disease can be complex and intertwined. We’ll use a few different diagnostic methods to determine the likely cause, or causes, of your dry eye disease to help us best treat it. This includes:

A thorough eye exam
A dry eye questionnaire
Detailed photos of your eyelids and meibomian glands with our Meibox infrared ocular camera
A discussion of your symptoms

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Beyond meibomian gland dysfunction, other contributing factors to dry eyes include:

Being over 50, as our eyes create less tears with age
Wearing contacts or having past laser eye surgery
Hormone changes in pregnancy, menopause, and with hormonal birth control use, which can affect tear production
Certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, depression medication, and more
Certain medical conditions, including Sjögren’s syndrome, allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, and more

Treatment for Dry Eye Disease

We’ll work with you to find relief for your symptoms both through targeted treatments and by suggesting adjustments to your environment. These environmental changes can include:

Running a humidifier
Addressing digital eye strain during your workday
Adjusting fans so they’re not blowing directly onto you

InMode Radiofrequency Treatment

We offer our patients InMode radiofrequency treatment to clear blocked meibomian glands and support the production of healthy tears and relieve dry eye symptoms.

Originally developed to treat fine lines and wrinkles, radiofrequency therapy is a safe dry eye treatment. It works by gently heating blocked meibomian glands to stimulate them into making high-quality tears. As a bonus, radiofrequency therapy also reduces the look of fine lines, bags, and wrinkles around the eyes.

LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation

LipiFlow uses gentle heat and pressure to liquefy and clear thickened oil from your meibomian glands that contributes to your dry eyes.

Many patients feel immediate dry eye relief following their LipiFlow treatment, though for some, it will take 4–6 weeks to feel the full effects of LipiFlow.

InMode IPL

The InMode IPL is a noninvasive dry eye treatment system that quickly and effectively eliminates the discomfort associated with dry eyes. InMode IPL delivers intense pulses of light directly to the eye’s surfaceThis treatment helps reduce inflammation, stabilizes the tear film, and helps improve vision.

Celluma LLLT

The Celluma LLLT is a light therapy system that uses low-level light technology to help ease the symptoms of dry eye disease. Celluma LLLT works by emitting a low-level laser light that penetrates the skin to stimulate cellular regeneration and reduce inflammation.

This process can help improve tear production and bring back your comfort.

ZEST Treatments

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is designed to help with eyelid debridement and help relieve dry eye symptoms. ZEST works by helping to remove bacteria and debris from the eyelids with gentle exfoliation.

Eye Drops

For temporary relief of dry eyes, we can recommend preservative-free over-the-counter eye drops, including gel drops that can provide excellent overnight relief.

More severe dry eye cases may benefit from prescription drops that address inflammation.

Omega-3 Supplements

Multiple studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can provide relief or protection from dry eye symptoms.
Add omega-3s to your diet by consuming salmon, herring, tuna, and sardines or by taking omega-3 supplements provided by PRN, proudly offered here at First Optometry.