Say goodbye to dry, irritated eyes

With dry eye solutions at Eye Care Specialists

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a chronic condition in which there is an insufficient quantity or unhealthy quality of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. With each blink of the eyelids, tears are spread across the front surface of the eye.

Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign matter on the eye, and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. Treatments are directed at improving the tear film balance to maintain good quality vision and minimize symptoms.

What Are The Symptoms of Dry Eye?

People with dry eye syndrome may notice several symptoms, including stinging or burning sensations, a feeling of grittiness or scratchiness, stringy mucus in or around the eyes, discomfort with contact lenses, blurred or fluctuating vision, pain, and light sensitivity. Many patients describe a sensation of having sand or a foreign body in their eye and experience excess tearing, redness, or heavy eyelids. You might also notice increased irritation from smoke or wind or decreased tolerance for reading, computer work, or activities requiring sustained visual attention.

Dry Eye Technology

At Eye Care Specialists, we provide the most advanced treatments to address your dry eyes, such as:

OptiLight & OptiPlus

Lumenis offers two innovative technologies for treating dry eye disease. OptiLight is an FDA-approved, light-based therapy and the first IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) device to receive FDA approval specifically for managing dry eye symptoms. It uses precisely calibrated light pulses to target underlying inflammation associated with dry eye, particularly in cases related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and ocular rosacea.

OptiPlus builds on OptiLight's benefits by adding advanced radiofrequency (RF) technology for more comprehensive treatment. The RF component provides gentle, controlled heating that penetrates deeper into the tissue around the eyes, specifically designed to liquify built-up or hardened oils in the meibomian glands, allowing for significantly improved flow and better quality tears.

Lacrifill

Lacrifill is an FDA-approved canalicular gel made of crosslinked hyaluronic acid that works by filling the tear drainage system to help patients retain their natural tears. The treatment is administered in a quick five-minute office procedure and provides relief lasting up to six months with a single application. Particularly beneficial for patients experiencing dry eye due to aging, contact lens wear, or following surgeries like cataract or LASIK, Lacrifill works almost immediately with minimal discomfort.

LipiFlow & LipiView

LipiView® is a diagnostic device that uses near-infrared illumination to image the meibomian glands, measure the oil layer of your tear film, and capture your blink patterns. This diagnostic information helps identify the underlying causes of dry eye symptoms. The LipiFlow® treatment works in conjunction with this diagnosis by applying controlled, gentle heat to the upper and lower eyelids, while mild intermittent pressure releases oils from the blocked Meibomian glands. This painless procedure is performed in-office and takes only minutes per eye, with no discomfort and no downtime, providing targeted relief based on the specific issues identified through LipiView® imaging.

TearLab™ Osmolarity Testing

TearLab™ is an objective and quantitative point-of-care diagnostic test that measures the osmolarity, or salt content, of your tears, which is often elevated in patients with dry eye disease. It is an indicator of the quality of tear film.

InflammaDry®

InflammaDry® is also an objective and quantitative point-of-care test that detects elevated levels of MMP-9, an Inflammatory marker that is often elevated in the tears of patients with dry eye disease. It is an indicator of the quality of tear film.

Autologous Serum Tears

Autologous serum tears are eye drops that are manufactured from the patient’s own blood serum to provide growth factors and other essential components that are present in natural tears, but may no longer be naturally produced by a patient suffering from dry eye disease.

LACRISERT

LACRISERT® is usually a once-daily medication insert that is placed in your eye that slowly melts and releases lubrication. This is usually effective in providing all-day lubrication and symptom relief. Some patients may require twice daily for optimal results.

Demodex Treatments

By completely removing exotoxin-laden biofilm along the lid margin, your doctor can help you avoid long term inflammatory damage to your tear glands, helping to control or prevent chronic dry eye syndrome. Tea tree oil scrubs are often recommended to treat Demodex.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are tiny devices made of collagen or silicone are inserted into the tear ducts to prevent drainage of tears and to help keep the eyes naturally lubricated.

Scleral Lenses

Scleral Lenses are a special type large-diameter contact lenses that are used in conjunction with other dry eye therapies to promote healing, and provide lubrication to the eye, while also protecting the eye from the environment. The large-diameter lenses maintain a tear prism between the lens and cornea to keep the eye bathed in non-preserved saline while in use.

Amniotic Membrane Placement

Amniotic membranes may be used in conjunction with other dry eye therapies as a therapeutic “bandage” to promote healing of the surface of the eye. The amniotic membrane suppresses inflammation and has anti-microbial and anti-scarring properties to help restore healthy surface layers of the eye to help aid in creating a stable tear film.

Why Eye Care Specialists?

For nearly 60 years, the board-certified ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians at Eye Care Specialists have provided for the eye care needs of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our eye doctors are pioneers in the field of ophthalmology, have performed tens of thousands eye surgeries, and have extensive experience in treating eye conditions like dry eye.

The eye doctors at Eye Care Specialists are committed to advancing the treatment of ocular disease in Northeastern Pennsylvania and worldwide. The cutting-edge clinical research done at the center has led to FDA approval of new treatments and procedures, meaning our patients get to enjoy the latest technology and treatments available.

Schedule an Appointment Call (877) 489-7405