Dry Eyes
Are you struggling with persistent dry, irritated eyes that affect your daily life? You may be experiencing symptoms of dry eye syndrome, a common but treatable condition.
At Vision Care Center in Tonawanda, NY, Dr. Madeline Bartels specializes in diagnosing and treating dry eye using the most advanced technologies available. Through comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans, Dr. Bartels helps patients find lasting relief from uncomfortable dry eye symptoms.
What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye syndrome, commonly referred to as dry eye, is a chronic condition that occurs when your eyes are unable to produce sufficient quality or quantity of tears to keep the surface of your eyes properly lubricated. Your tear film consists of three essential layers: an outer oil layer, a middle water layer, and an inner mucus layer. Each component plays a vital role in maintaining healthy, comfortable eyes.
When any of these layers is compromised, your tear film becomes unstable and is unable to adequately cover the surface of your eyes. This leads to dry eye syndrome, which puts your eyes at risk for irritation, discomfort, and potential infection.
There are several types of dry eye, including aqueous-deficient dry eye (insufficient tear production), evaporative dry eye (poor-quality tears that evaporate too quickly), and mixed dry eye (a combination of both issues).
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?
Dry eye syndrome causes a range of uncomfortable symptoms that can interfere with your quality of life. Common symptoms include:
• Burning or stinging sensations in your eyes
• A gritty, sandy, or scratchy feeling
• Redness and irritation
• Overly watery eyes
• Blurry or fluctuating vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye fatigue, especially after reading or screen time
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably
• Mucus buildup in or around your eyes
• A sensation that something is in your eye
If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, scheduling a comprehensive dry eye evaluation with Dr. Bartels at Vision Care Center can help you get the relief you need.
What Is the Tear Film?
A film of tears, spread over the eye by a blink, makes the surface of the eye smooth and clear. Without our tear film, good vision would not be possible.
The tear film consists of three layers:
- An oily layer
- A watery layer
- A layer of mucus
The oily layer, produced by the meibomian glands, forms the outermost surface of the tear film. Its main purpose is to smooth the tear surface and reduce evaporation of tears.
The middle watery layer makes up most of what we ordinarily think of as tears. This layer, produced by the lacrimal gland, cleanses the eye and washes away foreign particles or irritants.
The inner layer consists of mucus produced by the conjunctiva. Mucus allows the watery layer to spread evenly over the surface of the eye and helps the eye remain moist. Without mucus, tears would not stick to the eye.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Tear production normally decreases as we age. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often affected. This is especially true after menopause.
Dry eye also can be associated with other problems. For example, people with dry eyes, dry mouth and arthritis are said to have Sjogren’s syndrome.
A wide variety of common medications — prescription and over-the-counter — can cause dry eye by reducing tear secretion. Be sure to tell your ophthalmologist the names of all the medications you are taking, especially if you are using:
- Diuretics
- Beta-blockers
- Antihistamines
- Sleeping pills
- Medications for “nerves”
- Pain relievers
Since these medications are often necessary, the dry eye condition may have to be tolerated or treated with “artificial tears.”
People with dry eye are often more prone to the toxic side effects of eye medications, including artificial tears. For example, the preservatives in certain eyedrops and artificial tear preparations can irritate the eye. Special preservative-free artificial tears may be required.
How Is Dry Eye Diagnosed?
At Vision Care Center, Dr. Bartels takes a thorough approach to diagnosing dry eye. Your evaluation begins with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, a validated tool that measures the severity of your dry eye symptoms.
The questionnaire assesses how dry eye affects your daily activities, vision-related functions, and environmental sensitivities. Your OSDI score helps Dr. Bartels classify your condition as mild, moderate, or severe, which guides treatment planning.
Following the questionnaire, Dr. Bartels performs advanced diagnostic testing to identify the root cause of your dry eye. She uses a slit lamp examination to evaluate the quality of your tear film and check for signs of inflammation or damage to the ocular surface.
Additional tests assess tear breakup time, meibomian gland function, and the presence of demodex mites, which can cause a specific type of eyelid inflammation. This comprehensive evaluation allows Dr. Bartels to create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific type of dry eye.
Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Options at Vision Care Center
Dr. Bartels offers a complete range of treatment options, from conservative approaches to advanced therapies, ensuring every patient receives the most appropriate care for their condition:
Lifestyle Modifications and At-Home Care
For mild dry eye, simple lifestyle adjustments can provide significant relief. Some of these measures may include using a humidifier in dry environments, taking frequent breaks from screens by following the 20-20-20 rule (looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes), and avoiding smoke or windy conditions when possible.
Warm compresses applied to closed eyelids for five to ten minutes can help unclog meibomian glands and improve oil secretion. Over-the-counter artificial tears provide temporary lubrication and can be used as needed throughout the day.
BioTissue CAM360 AmnioGraft
Vision Care Center offers BioTissue CAM360 AmnioGraft, an innovative treatment that harnesses the natural healing properties of cryopreserved amniotic membrane tissue. Amniotic membrane, part of the placenta that protects babies during pregnancy, contains powerful anti-inflammatory and regenerative compounds that promote healing.
CAM360 AmnioGraft is particularly effective for patients with early-stage dry eye disease and reduced corneal sensitivity. The treatment works through multiple mechanisms, reducing inflammation, minimizing scarring, and supporting your body’s natural healing processes. Clinical research has demonstrated that amniotic membrane therapy also promotes nerve regeneration, which is particularly beneficial for patients with dry eyes.
During treatment, Dr. Bartels places the thin, transparent amniotic membrane in a collagen shield or bandage contact lens directly on the surface of your eye. The membrane remains in place for up to 72 hours, during which it delivers essential growth factors and proteins that stimulate cellular repair.
XDEMVY for Demodex Blepharitis
Demodex blepharitis is an eyelid disease associated with dry eye, caused by an infestation of demodex mites, microscopic organisms commonly found on human skin. When these mites proliferate excessively, they cause inflammation and distinctive crusty deposits called collarettes around the base of your eyelashes. Symptoms include eyelid redness, irritation, itching, and inflammation that can significantly impact eye comfort.
Vision Care Center offers XDEMVY, the first and only FDA-approved treatment specifically created to target and eliminate demodex mites. This prescription eye drop provides a definitive solution for demodex blepharitis, addressing the root cause rather than just managing symptoms.
The treatment protocol is straightforward: one drop in each affected eye twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart, for six weeks. Clinical studies demonstrate impressive results, with 50% of patients experiencing complete elimination of collarettes and 60% achieving total eradication of demodex mites.
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs offer an effective solution for patients whose dry eye results from insufficient tear production. These tiny devices block the small drainage openings (puncta) in your eyelids, preventing tears from draining away too quickly. By slowing or stopping tear drainage, punctal plugs help maintain natural moisture on the surface of your eyes.
Dr. Bartels can place punctal plugs during a quick, painless in-office procedure. The process takes just a few minutes, and most patients experience immediate improvement in eye moisture. Depending on your needs, Dr. Bartels may recommend temporary plugs that dissolve naturally within days, semi-permanent options that last several months, or permanent silicone plugs that can be easily removed if necessary.
Medicated Drop Therapy
Prescription eye drops provide targeted treatment for specific types of dry eye. Dr. Bartels may prescribe medications that reduce inflammation in your tear glands and meibomian glands, improve tear quality, or stimulate increased tear production.
These prescription therapies are tailored to your diagnosis and can provide long-term management of chronic dry eye. Some patients benefit from a combination of medicated drops and other treatments to achieve optimal results.
Start Your Journey to Dry Eye Relief
Living with dry eye symptoms doesn’t have to be your reality. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can experience significant improvement and return to comfortable, clear vision.
Dr. Madeline Bartels brings both expertise and compassion to every patient interaction by combining advanced technology with a personalized approach, ensuring that your treatment plan addresses your unique needs and lifestyle.
Schedule your comprehensive dry eye evaluation at Vision Care Center in Tonawanda, New York, today and start your journey toward comfortable, healthy eyes.
How Is Dry Eye Treated?
Adding Tears: Eyedrops called artificial tears are similar to your own tears. They lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture. Artificial tears are available without a prescription. There are many brands on the market, so you may want to try several to find the one you like best.
Preservative-free eyedrops are available if you are sensitive to the preservatives in artificial tears. If you need to use artificial tears more than every two hours, preservative-free brands may be better for you.
You can use the tears as often as necessary — once or twice a day or as often as several times an hour.
Conserving the Tears
Conserving your eyes’ own tears is another approach to keeping the eyes moist.
Tears drain out of the eye through a small channel into the nose (which is why your nose runs when you cry). Your ophthalmologist may close these channels either temporarily or permanently. The closure conserves your own tears and makes artificial tears last longer.
Other Methods
Tears evaporate like any other liquid. You can take steps to prevent evaporation. In winter, when indoor heat is on, a humidifier or a pan of water on the radiator adds moisture to dry air. Wrap-around glasses may reduce the drying effect of the wind, but are illegal to wear while driving in some states.
Anything that may cause dryness, such as an overly warm room, hair dryers or wind, should be avoided by a person with dry eye. Smoking is especially bothersome.
Some people with dry eye complain of “scratchy eyes” when they wake up. This symptom can be treated by using an artificial tear ointment or thick eyedrops at bedtime. Use the smallest amount of ointment necessary for comfort, since the ointment can cause your vision to blur.
Dry eye due to a lack of vitamin A in the diet is rare in the United States but is more common in poorer countries, especially among children. Ointments containing vitamin A can help dry eye if it is caused by unusual conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or pemphigoid. Vitamin A supplements do not seem to help people with ordinary dry eye.
