Dry eye is a common condition where your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. This can cause symptoms like burning, itching, redness, fluctuating or blurry vision, and a gritty or sandy feeling. It’s often influenced by age, screen time, environmental factors, and certain health conditions.

Dry eye isn’t just about how your eyes feel — we take a close, clinical look to understand the underlying cause so we can treat it properly. During your exam, I assess several key areas:

• Meibomian Gland Evaluation: I look at the oil glands in your eyelids (called meibomian glands) to see if they are healthy, blocked, or not functioning properly. I may gently express them to check the quality of the oil they produce.

• Eyelid and Lash Health: Cleanliness of your eyelid margins and lashes is important. We look for signs of inflammation, debris, or buildup that could be contributing to irritation or blockages.

• Tear Film Assessment: We evaluate the quality and quantity of your tears, including how stable they are and how quickly they evaporate.

• Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT): This measures how long your tear film stays intact before it breaks up — a key indicator of tear film stability and evaporation rate.

These findings help us determine whether your dry eye is more evaporative (often related to gland dysfunction) or aqueous-deficient (related to tear production), and guide us in building the right treatment plan for you.

Managing dry eye often involves consistent, at-home care. Based on your specific needs, I may recommend a combination of the following:

1. Eyelid Warming – Using a warm compress helps soften any blockages in the glands that produce the oily layer of your tears.

2. Eyelid Cleansing – Cleansing your eyelid margins with dedicated wipes helps reduce inflammation and bacteria that can worsen dry eye.

3. Preservative-Free Artificial Tears – These help add moisture and support a more stable tear film without the irritation that can come from added preservatives.

4. Eyelid Care – Specific creams or gels applied to the lids can help soothe the skin and support lid function.

5. Essential Nutrients – Omega-3 fatty acids, found in supplements or foods like fish, can help improve tear quality over time.

6. Lifestyle Modifications – We may also talk about things like taking frequent breaks from electronic devices, staying hydrated, considering a humidifier, being careful with makeup products, and monitor for potential environment triggers

Punctal Plugs
Tiny, biocompatible plugs can be inserted into the tear drainage ducts to help keep your natural tears on the surface of the eye longer. This is a common and minimally invasive option for patients with reduced tear production.

Thermal Gland Expression
Special devices can apply heat and gentle pressure to the eyelids to unblock Meibomian glands. These in-office treatments are good for cases of evaporative dry eye due to MGD.

Topical Prescription Medications
For moderate to severe dry eye, anti-inflammatory drops may be prescribed. These can include:

• Cyclosporine (e.g., Restasis®, Cequa®)

• Lifitegrast (Xiidra®)

• Short-term steroid drops to calm acute inflammation

Low-Dose Oral Antibiotics
These medications may be used in low doses to reduce inflammation and improve Meibomian gland function — often helpful in cases involving MGD or rosacea.

Moisture Chamber Glasses
Specialized eyewear can help protect the eyes from wind and reduce tear evaporation, particularly useful for people in dry or windy environments.

Scleral Contact Lenses
For severe dry eye cases, these large lenses create a fluid reservoir over the cornea and protect it throughout the day. This requires an optometrist specializing in hard contact lenses.

A warm compress helps unclog the oil glands in your eyelids, which keeps your tears from evaporating too quickly. The key is consistency! You may not notice remarkable results until about two weeks of consistent use.

How to use it:

1. Heat the mask in the microwave (follow the instructions on the package).

2. Make sure it feels warm, not hot.

3. Place it over closed eyes for 5–10 minutes.

4. Use once or twice daily, especially when symptoms flare. I encourage all patients to add this to their nightly routine, ongoing

Want to make sure you do it right? Check out my Youtube video!

… coming soon …

Eyelid wipes help clean the lash line, reduce inflammation, and support healthy oil gland function. Some types can even help remove non-waterproof makeup.

How to use it:

1. Wash your hands, then open a single wipe.

2. Close one eye, and using gentle pressure, scrub along the lash line — don’t just lightly wipe. Focus on the base of the lashes where oil and debris collect.

3. Use a new wipe for the other eye.

4. No need to rinse unless directed — most are leave-on formulas.

Use once or twice daily, or as directed. They’re great after warm compresses or at the end of the day.

Want to make sure you do it right? Check out my Youtube video!

Artificial tears can help protect and heal the surface of the eye — but how you use them matters. Research suggests that using preservative-free artificial tears 4 times per day can help maintain a healthy, hydrated ocular surface.

Tips for proper use:

1. Tilt your head back, pull down your lower lid to create a small pocket.

2. Aim for the pocket, not directly onto the cornea (center of your eye), to reduce stinging.

3. Avoid touching the bottle tip to your eye or lashes to keep it clean.

4. Close your eye gently and don’t blink right away — press lightly on the inner corner of your eye for a few seconds to prevent drainage.

Not all eye drops are the same — some may contain preservatives or ingredients that aren’t right for your eyes. The one I recommend is tailored to your specific needs, whether it’s for dryness, inflammation, or tear quality.

Want to make sure you do it right? Check out my Youtube video!

… coming soon …