If you suffer from dry eye syndrome and are fed up with uncomfortable, itchy eyes, Chicago Cornea Consultants, Ltd. may be able to help. We offer many treatment options for dry eye Syndrome including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy and were the first in Chicago to offer the advanced LipiFlow® procedure.
What is Dry Eye?
The most common type of dry eye, evaporative dry eye, is caused by a lipid (oil) deficiency resulting from a blockage of the meibomian glands. Your tear film, made up of the lipids, aqueous, and mucin layers, is protected against evaporation by meibum, an oily substance found in the meibomian glands around the rims of your eyelids. When these glands are blocked or dysfunctional, your tears evaporate too quickly (between four and sixteen times faster than normal).
Aqueous deficient dry eye occurs when the lacrimal glands (located above the lateral end of your eye) do not create enough moisture to keep your eyes moist.
Symptoms of Dry Eye
Symptoms of dry eye can be very uncomfortable and make simple tasks such as reading, using a computer, driving, and watching television strenuous and painful. If you experience one of the following symptoms, it is important that you contact our experts in Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, or Chicago as soon as possible to determine whether you have dry eye syndrome:
- Dryness
- Discomfort and irritation
- Tearing
- Redness
- Tiredness
- Itching
- Grittiness
- The sensation that there is a foreign body in the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Vision disturbance
- Burning or stinging
Treatment Options for Dry Eye
Since there are many causes for dry eye, there are many treatment options available. Often those suffering from dry eye will try over the counter drops and ointments. These often provide temporary relief and can be effective for those with allergies. However if the irritation and pain associated with dry eye does not improve, medical intervention is likely necessary to alleviate the symptoms. There are effective prescription medications available including Restasis. When taken regularly this can improve tear production and reduce dry eye symptoms. There are also advanced in-office treatments available at Chicago Cornea.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy – This advanced treatment uses powerful bursts of light at specific wavelengths to reduce inflammation of the lower eye lid causing dry eye. This is a great procedure for these who have not experienced relief from other treatments. Click here to read more about the IPL technology available at Chicago Cornea.
LipiFlow – This advanced treatment heats the thickened oils within the meibomian glands from inside the eye, then gently unplugs these blocked glands to allow them to resume their natual production of lipids needed for a healthy tear film. Click here to read more about the LipiFlow technology available that Chicago Cornea.
