Dry Eye

You may have dry eyes. People with dry eyes may experience irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes; a feeling of something in their eyes; excess watering; and blurred vision. If you're struggling with redness, watery eyes, stringy mucus near your eye, blurry vision or an inability to tolerate contact lens wear for a normal length of time, we can help.

• Adding Tears: Mild cases of dry eyes can often be managed using over-the-counter artificial tear solutions. These can be used as often as needed to supplement natural tear production. Preservative-free artificial tear solutions are recommended because they contain fewer additives, which can further irritate the eyes. People with dry eyes that don't respond to artificial tears alone will need to take additional steps to treat their dry eyes.
• Increasing Tear Production: We can prescribe eye drops that increase tear production. Taking an omega-3 fatty acid nutritional supplement may also help.
• Treating Inflammation: We might also recommend prescription eye drops or ointments, warm compresses and lid massage, or eyelid cleaners to help decrease inflammation around the surface of the eyes.

If you've tried these at-home treatments and still suffer from dry eyes, contact lens intolerance or dependence on artificial tears to make it through your day, we have in-office treatment options that can help.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a technology commonly used for skin treatments. Lumenis Optima IPL technology gently and effectively treats your skin and eyelid inflammation safely, comfortably and in a manner fully customized to your skin type and condition. IPL gets at the root of the problem of dry eyes, provides immediate relief, improves skin appearance, and can be completed in under an hour.

Is IPL Safe?

Yes! Lumenis IPL is trusted by leading professionals around the world and is FDA-approved for use in treating more than 20 skin conditions. These treatments must be performed by a physician or authorized provider. Talk to us to learn more about this treatment.

How Does It Work?

IPL technology uses light pulses to penetrate the skin tissue and create heat, targeting the abnormal vessels that are the root cause of inflammation. The body's natural reaction to this treatment reduces inflammation and improves skin appearance.

What Should I Expect?

Following treatment, you may experience some redness around the treated areas that typically disappears within a few hours. In most cases, makeup may be applied immediately, and you can resume activity the same day. We may advise that you avoid direct sunlight for a few days following treatment.

How Often Will I Need Treatment?

Inflammation can typically be relieved within 1-2 treatments. Four sessions (with 3-4 week breaks in between) are needed to achieve optimal results. Following completion of initial treatment, we may recommend maintenance treatments 1 to 2 times per year to maintain optimal long-term results.

At Green Eye Associates, we have an Alcon ILux Device in-house specifically to help our patients suffering from dry eyes. After a simple 20-minute treatment, many of our patients have seen a significant reduction in the need for artificial tears and other treatments, and they commonly notice a difference within days that lasts for months. Watch our video on the Alcon ILux to learn more.