If you have dry eye disease, you may experience blurred vision, stinging or burning, a “gritty” sensation, or eye fatigue. These occur when your eyes don’t produce adequate tears, or when tears are of the wrong consistency and evaporate too quickly. Left untreated, dry eye can worsen over time and endanger your vision.
Fortunately, you don’t have to live with the condition. The dry eye experts at Florida Eye Specialists offer the latest and most advanced treatment options to reduce or eliminate your symptoms.
Comprehensive Dry Eye Treatment Options
- Lid hygiene — warm compresses and lid scrubs
- Moisture chamber goggles (and goggles for C-PAP users)
- Artificial tears, gels, or ointments
- Serum eye drops
- Vitamins for dry eyes
- Prescription medications
- Punctal plugs
Advanced Dry Eye Treatments
Eyelid Cleaning Procedures
If you’re experiencing itchy, crusting, red, or puffy eyelids, recurring styes, dryness, discharge, or watery eyes, you may be suffering from blepharitis, bacterial overgrowth, or a demodex infection. Florida Eye Specialists offers in-office eyelid-cleaning procedures, such as BlephEx® and ZEST, to improve eyelid hygiene.
BlephEx®
BlephEx® is a quick, in-office treatment that deep-cleans the eyelid margins, removing debris and buildup that contribute to irritation. It takes about 8-10 minutes to complete and is done by one of our providers. The procedure is not painful, but we do use topical anesthetic drops to improve comfort. Patients often describe it as a tickling feeling. Your doctor will recommend a cleaning regimen to help extend the effects of the treatment. While not a cure for your blepharitis, BlephEx® can significantly reduce your symptoms and is typically recommended every 4-6 months for maintenance.
ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment)
ZEST, an okra-based cleaning agent our providers use in the office to clean the eyelids, has anti-inflammatory properties and can help with demodex. This eyelid debridement procedure is available only at eye care clinics. This simple, painless process exfoliates the eyelids and opens the meibomian glands, allowing soothing oils to be released into the eye to promote healthy tear production and reduce dry eye symptoms.
LipiFlow®
LipiFlow® targets one of the most common causes of dry eye – blocked meibomian glands. The dry eye treatment uses a controlled warm temperature and gentle massaging to allow the blocked glands to open.
The in-office procedure takes about 12 minutes and is clinically proven to provide lasting results, with many patients noticing significant improvement after just one treatment.
ProKera®
A new treatment for chronic dry eye, ProKera® heals the surface of your eye (the cornea) and restores it to a normal, healthy state. The in-office procedure is known for its natural therapeutic actions and uses amniotic tissue to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Scleral contact lenses
Large-diameter, rigid-gas permeable lenses can improve dryness and comfort for patients. Dr. Riordan and Dr. Guier specialize in fitting these types of contact lenses.
Find Lasting Relief From Dry Eye
Effective treatment starts by breaking the cycle of irritation and inflammation and addressing the underlying condition. Your doctor will assess your eyelid margins, meibomian glands, and tear production and quality to formulate a plan best suited for your type of dry eye.
Ready to Find Lasting Relief?
Florida Eye Specialists is proud to offer a full-service Dry Eye Center at our San Marco location. Request an appointment today.
