Advanced Dry Eye Clinic

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic, multifactorial, and progressive disease that causes inflammation and damage and significantly impacts the ocular surface health. Dry eye disease can cause a negative impact on quality of life as common symptoms include: dryness, blurry vision, burning, tired eyes, scratchy eyes, watery eyes, light sensitivity, and gritty sensations. Chronic DED can cause ocular surface damage and neurosensory abnormalities.

Common symptoms include: dryness, blurry vision, burning, tired eyes, scratchy eyes, watery eyes, light sensitivity, red eyes, eye pain, and gritty/sandy sensations.

Dry eye is a multifactorial disease meaning there are several possible causes of the disease. It can be induced by aging, hormonal changes, contact lens use, history of laser eye surgery, and even prolonged screen time . Furthermore certain medications (i.e. antidepressants or anti-histamines) and medical conditions (like diabetes, thyroid eye disease, or other autoimmune diseases) can exacerbate dry eye. In addition, environmental factors like smoke or hot, arid environments can also worsen dry eye.

An astonishing 86% of dry eye patients present with MGD (meibomian gland dysfunction)! MGD is associated with an increased bacterial overpopulation (blepharitis), which leads to eye inflammation.

Furthermore, in MGD patients the oil glands stop producing a healthy oil (clear and liquid meibum) and instead, produce thick, viscous and toothpaste-like meibum. The change in this oil consistency leads the oil glands to become more blocked and constipated. A hardened oil cannot be excreted when we blink which therefore leads to dry eye symptoms.

Since DED can negatively impact the integrity of your ocular health, it will also affect your vision. Furthermore, when your vision is affected, essential activities of daily living will also be impacted such as: reading, writing, and driving.