Relief For Dry Eye Is Available

We often take our eyes for granted until they’re uncomfortable. A leading cause of ocular discomfort is dry eye disease. Dry eyes are common and are often part of the normal aging process. But lifestyle factors and environmental conditions can play a role in the development of dry eye too!

Dry eye is usually a chronic condition, and while it cannot be cured, there are effective ways to manage it. Relief is available, and St. Clair Eye Clinic can help. Book an appointment to discuss your dry eye symptoms today.

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Dry Eye Diagnosis

If you have symptoms of dry eye disease, your optometrist will discuss your health history and current environmental conditions with you. Determining the cause of your dry eye disease will inform the treatment we proceed with.

Symptoms

Some of the more common symptoms of dry eye include:

Burning sensation
Stringy discharge
Gritty or scratchy sensation
Feeling like something is stuck in your eye
Redness
Excessive watering
Blurry vision

Causes

Tears are essential for protecting and hydrating your eyes. Dry eye disease occurs when a layer of the tear film is out of balance. The 3 main components of the tear film are the mucus layer, oil layer, and water layer.

If there is not enough mucus, the tears will not adhere to the eyes. When you don’t produce enough of the water layer, there simply are not enough tears. If the oil layer is lacking, the tears might evaporate too quickly.

Blockages in the glands that produce the oil layer, known as the meibomian glands, can also lead to dry eye disease.

E>EYE IRPL Treatment

IRPL stands for intense regulated pulsed light, which is an innovative treatment created specifically for ocular conditions. E>EYE is the medical device our optometrists will use to target meibomian gland dysfunction, the most common cause of dry eye symptoms. It’s also effective for treating ocular rosacea and age-related macular degeneration.

The treatment process is performed in the office. During the session, you’ll wear protective glasses; then, the optometrist will use the E>EYE device to apply 5 flashes of light targeting the trouble area. Patients will appreciate that this procedure is efficient—only 5 minutes per eye—and painless. Some even find it relaxing. It can show promising results after only a few treatments.

E>EYE IRPL treatment shows great promise for treating chronic dry eye symptoms. St. Clair Eye Clinic proudly offers this breakthrough, noninvasive treatment.

Blepharitis or Dry Eye?

Blepharitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the eyelids. Sore, red eyelids and crusty eyelashes are common signs of blepharitis.

Bacteria grow along the margins of the eyelids, multiplying and creating a biofilm. Mites can feed on the biofilm and lead to even more mites that worsen eyelid inflammation. If the biofilm leads to inflammation and blockages of the meibomian glands, dry eye symptoms can be exacerbated.

The condition happens alongside dry eye disease so often that it is often difficult to sort out which one came first. Treating blepharitis can also reduce the symptoms associated with dry eye disease.

Eyelid Hygiene Is Important Too!

At St. Clair Eye Clinic, we offer an in-office eyelid cleaning procedure that can help with dry eye, particularly if blepharitis is the cause of your dry eye. Blephex cleans the eyelid margins and removes bacteria and biofilm. The procedure is short and helps you remain symptom-free with regular treatments.

Most patients find the treatment painless, just a bit ticklish. A soft, medical-grade micro-sponge spins along your eyelid margins, removing accumulated debris.

Blephex treatments are an excellent preventative tool for dry eye when incorporated as a routine part of eye care.

What Should You Do About Dry Eye?

The best way to begin your journey to dry eye relief is to contact your optometrist. Many treatment options exist for dry eye – Dr. Caroline Korkis and the St. Clair Eye Clinic team can walk you through the best treatment for your particular circumstance. Book your appointment today!

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TAKE OUR COMPLIMENTARY DRY EYE QUIZ

DR. CAROLINE KORKIS

Optometrist

Dr. Caroline Korkis obtained her undergraduate degree at McMaster University and her Optometry Degree in Cambridge, United Kingdom. She participated in a clinical placement in Melbourne, Australia before completing her training in London involving general practice and rotations in comprehensive Ophthalmology. Dr. Korkis is double board certified, in Canada and the United Kingdom, and is an active member with several professional networks.

Dr. Korkis practiced as an associate and locum Optometrist for several years in London, being exposed to a variety of patient cases ranging from contact lenses, laser refractive surgery care, ocular disease and dry eye management.

She returned to Canada in 2018 and earned her Canadian Optometry license in 2019 from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Korkis worked with several esteemed clinicians during her two clinical rotations in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Toronto, Ontario. Her rotation in Halifax was with a leading ocular oncologist and cataract specialist, where she assisted in LASIK pre and post-operative care, cataract surgery and corneal cross linking. Dr. Korkis also trained in downtown Toronto with Doctors Samuel and Sharon Markowitz; assisting at the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB) with low vision rehabilitation.

Dr. Korkis is very passionate about ocular health with particular interest in dry eye as well as cataract pre and post – operative care and contact lens fitting. Dr. Korkis’s passion for philanthropy led her to facilitating school vision screening programs in underprivileged communities in Toronto. She supports other charities, specifically patients with congenital heart disease. Dr. Korkis loves to travel and enjoys skiing and tennis.