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Healthy eyes are naturally lubricated, but many people suffer from occasional or chronic dry eye. Sometimes referred to as dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome, this condition affects up to 20 million people in the United States, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.1 At Fraser Eye, our dry eye specialists provide patients in the Detroit, Michigan area with a full range of dry eye treatments designed to alleviate discomfort and preserve the health of their eyes.
Everybody experiences dry eyes from time to time, and this is often caused by factors such as a lack of hydration, seasonal allergies, or dry weather. Dry eye syndrome, sometimes called dry eye disease, is different. This is a chronic medical condition that is caused by poor or inadequate lubrication of the eyes. Unlike occasional dry eye, dry eye syndrome causes frequent symptoms that can be so uncomfortable that they interfere with daily activities.
People do not always realize that they are experiencing dry eye because it can present with many different symptoms2, including:
There are many factors that can cause dry eye, which is a result of poor quality tears or insufficient tear production. Risk factors that may make a person more susceptible to dry eye include:
When a person blinks, the surface of the eyes is cleansed of debris and moisturized by tear film. The tear film consists of three layers: a lipid (oil) layer, an aqueous (water) layer, and a mucin layer. In healthy eyes, there is a balance between the amount of tears produced and the quality of those tears.
In patients with aqueous-deficient dry eye, the water component of the tear film is improperly balanced. Many patients with aqueous-deficient dry eye can find relief with over-the-counter artificial tears.
Evaporative dry eye is the most common cause of dry eye and is a result of a deficiency in the lipid layer of the tear film. The oil in this layer makes it possible for tears to hold moisture. Tears can evaporate more quickly than they should when there is inadequate oil in the tears.
The root cause of evaporative dry eye is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (or MGD). The Meibomian glands in the eyelids produce oils that help to lubricate the eyes. In people with MGD, these glands become blocked. Up to 86% of people with dry eye have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, which may not respond to standard treatments like over-the-counter eye drops and require professional dry eye treatment.3
At Fraser Eye, our doctors can perform a number of tests during a comprehensive eye exam to help diagnose dry eye disease so that we can provide the best treatment. These tests may include:
If you suffer from occasional dry eyes, you may be able to find relief through home remedies such as:
If you have dry eye syndrome, home remedies will only alleviate your symptoms temporarily. Dry eye is a chronic eye condition for which there is no cure, so it’s important to work with a specialist to help find relief. At Fraser Eye, our eye doctors custom-tailor dry eye treatment to suit each patient’s unique condition and needs.
Treatment for dry eye may include:
Restasis prescription eye drops provide optimal eye lubrication, helping to minimize discomfort, and can also help increase the body’s natural tear production. In 80% of cases, Restasis has been clinically proven to reduce dry eye symptoms.4 Remember, Restasis is most effective when you use it throughout the day as prescribed, instead of waiting until your symptoms become uncomfortable.
Autologous serum eye drops (ASED), commonly referred to as serum tears, are a specialized eye drop formulated with components of the patient’s own blood. The patient’s blood is drawn, then diluted with a solution, creating a unique eye drop that works in harmony with the patient’s body. Serum tears are safe, effective, and preservative free. Many patients with dry eye syndrome or dry eye caused by autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren’s syndrome experience significant symptom relief after using serum tears.5
For our patients’ convenience, Fraser Eye produces serum tears in-house, without the need to make a special trip to a laboratory. We offer serum tears for a flat fee of $45 per bottle (2 vial minimum), and there is no need to file a health insurance claim.
IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy is an effective treatment for many patients who have severe dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. During this treatment, an eye doctor uses a handheld device to deliver targeted, gentle pulses of light heat around the eye, to break up oil buildup and unclog the meibomian glands. IPL therapy is followed by a gentle massage, which stimulates normal oil flow from the meibomian glands. Research shows that up to 89% of patients with meibomian gland dysfunction experience significant reduction of dry eye symptoms after this treatment.6
OcuSoft Thermal 1-Touch is a dry eye treatment that is performed in our office and delivers relief far in excess of an at-home warm compress. The eye doctor applies a small device to the eyelids which delivers targeted, steady heat. This heat helps to break up Meibomian gland blockages, making it possible for the eye’s natural lubrication process to function properly. So many of our patients have achieved dry eye relief from OcuSoft Thermal 1-Touch that we offer the first treatment for free.
Lacrisert is a prescription eye supplement that is positioned under the eyelid to promote lubrication of the eyes.
Punctal plugs, sometimes referred to as lacrimal plugs, are tiny devices that are placed in the tear ducts (punctum) in the lower eyelid to block drainage. This helps the eyes maintain moisture and also makes lubricating eye drops more effective. Punctal plugs are made from collagen or silicone and are placed in a fast and painless procedure in our office.
Is it necessary to treat my dry eye?
It feels as if my eyes are constantly watering. How can I have dry eye?
Will my dry eye treatment be covered by insurance?
If you suffer from the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye disease and have not found relief through at-home treatments or over-the-counter eye drops, it’s time to seek professional treatment. To learn more about how our specialists in Detroit, Michigan can help you achieve relief from dry eye disease, please contact Fraser Eye to schedule a personal consultation.
1 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dry Eye Disease. Available: https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/dry-eye-disease. Accessed June 2, 2023.
2 Mayo Clinic. Dry Eyes. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863. Accessed June 2, 2023.
3 Lemp MA, Crews LA, Bron AJ, Foulks GN, Sullivan BD. Distribution of aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye in a clinic-based patient cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea. 2012 May;31(5):472-8. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318225415a. PMID: 22378109. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22378109/. Accessed November 1, 2021.
4 Schultz C. Safety and efficacy of cyclosporine in the treatment of chronic dry eye. Ophthalmol Eye Dis. 2014 Jun 24;6:37-42. doi: 10.4137/OED.S16067. PMID: 25002818; PMCID: PMC4076204. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25002818/. Accessed June 2, 2023.
5 Ali TK, Gibbons A, Cartes C, Zarei-Ghanavati S, Gomaa M, Gonzalez I, Gonzalez AE, Ozturk HE, Betancurt C, Perez VL. Use of Autologous Serum Tears for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Disease From Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. Am J Ophthalmol. 2018 May;189:65-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.02.009. Epub 2018 Feb 19. PMID: 29470971. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29470971/. Accessed June 2, 2023.
6 Vegunta S, Patel D, Shen JF. Combination Therapy of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Meibomian Gland Expression (IPL/MGX) Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms and Meibomian Gland Function in Patients With Refractory Dry Eye: A Retrospective Analysis. Cornea. 2016 Mar;35(3):318-22. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000735. PMID: 26785301. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26785301/. Accessed June 2, 2023.
The Fraser Eye Care Center Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
