Dry Eye Treatment

Relieve Uncomfortable Eyes

Living with dry eye can be a constant distraction. Your eyes are often causing you discomfort: feeling gritty, scratchy, and irritated consistently.

But we’re here to help. We offer a variety of treatment options prescribed based on your specific needs. We evaluate your eye health and tear film through a thorough dry eye exam before recommending a treatment plan tailored to you.

If you’re ready to find relief from your symptoms, book an appointment with us today.

Book Appointment

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye disease is a common, uncomfortable condition that is related to issues with your tear film. Dry eye can occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears produced lack the proper chemical balance to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

Dry eye can be caused by a multitude of factors. A thorough dry eye consultation is necessary to determine the root cause of your symptoms and form an effective treatment plan that relieves your discomfort and treats the root of the problem.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Common symptoms of dry eye may include:

Stinging or burning
Gritty or scratchy feeling
Foreign body sensations
Red or watery eyes
Blurry vision
Sensitivity to light
Eye fatigue
Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Discomfort when wearing contacts

Causes of Dry Eye

Causes of dry eye vary significantly, but some of the most common root causes are:

Contact lens wear
Normal aging
Medications, such as antihistamines or antidepressants
Medical conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren’s syndrome
Recent laser vision correction surgery
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
Blepharitis or Demodex
Ocular rosacea

Our Dry Eye Treatments

The first step towards relief is a thorough dry eye examination. During this assessment, we will complete the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) Questionnaire if you didn’t already during a comprehensive eye exam. Other tests include evaluating the health of your tear film and measuring your tear break-up time, or how long the tear film covers your eye completely before beginning to drain and evaporate.

We will also perform a meibography test to examine the health of your meibomian glands (the oil-producing glands that line your eyelids). Meibomian gland dysfunction is a common cause of dry eye, as the meibomian glands are responsible for producing the oil layer of your tear film that prevents rapid evaporation.

Once we have completed your assessment, we will build a custom dry eye treatment plan for you. This may include energy-based treatments like IPL and radiofrequency, or medications and supplements to support healthy tears and reduce inflammation. Read more about our treatments below.

We offer a variety of energy-based treatments for dry eye, including intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), TempSure Envi radiofrequency, and LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation.

IPL therapy uses light energy to gently warm the eyelids and melt oil blockages. It also targets inflammation.

Radiofrequency treatments use energy waves to gently heat the eyelids, unclog oil blockages, and stimulate natural oil and collagen production.

The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation system uses gentle heat and pressure to massage the eyelids and unclog the meibomian glands.

When oil blockages in the meibomian glands contribute to dry eye symptoms, we may provide meibomian gland expression to restore their function.

Meibomian gland expression is an in-office procedure that uses gentle pressure to manually massage out any blockages in the meibomian glands. It is often done after an energy-based treatment, while the oils are softened.

For patients with blepharitis or Demodex mites, eyelid hygiene is a primary concern. We offer the BlephEx treatment in-office, which cleans the eyelid margin and removes bacteria and debris from the eye area, along with any oil buildup from the meibomian glands.

While many people turn to over-the-counter eye drops to relieve dryness, they may find that the drops provide only temporary relief. Medicated eye drops are prescribed for certain cases of dry eye and target the root cause of your symptoms.

For example, some medicated eye drops target inflammation in and around the eye. For individuals with blepharitis or other causes of inflammation that interrupt tear production, a prescription eye drop that reduces inflammation can restore healthy tear production.

Omega-3 supplements can help your body’s natural tear production. These supplements are formulated specifically for eye health and help to reduce inflammation and improve meibomian gland function.

Punctal plugs are tiny devices, about the size of a grain of rice, that are inserted into the tear duct to keep natural tears in the eye. They can be temporary or semi-permanent.

Temporary plugs are made of biodegradable material, which naturally dissolves in a few months. Semi-permanent plugs are made of medical-grade silicone, which can last for years.

Lacrifill Canalicular Gel is an FDA-approved treatment for dry eye. The gel is administered by an eye care professional and used to keep natural tears in your eye.

The gel is administered to the tear ducts, where it helps increase tear volume and prevent tears from draining too quickly. Lacrifill works similarly to a punctal plug; however, it can be easily administered and removed by an eye care professional in the office.

For more severe or persistent cases of dry eye, Prokera corneal bandages can support healing of the ocular surface. These biologically active amniotic membranes promote tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and help restore the integrity of the cornea.

Soothe Your Dry Eyes Today

We want to relieve your symptoms and get to the root of the problem that is causing you discomfort. By beginning with a thorough exam, we make sure our treatments are tailored to your needs and help bring long-lasting relief from your symptoms.

Ready to find relief? Book your dry eye consultation today.

Book Appointment

Our Services

Visit Our Locations

San Marco Location

Find us in the San Marco area, near the intersection of Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard. We’re next door to Crumbl Cookie and the Publix parking garage.

2039 Hendricks Ave, Unit 213
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Hours of Operation

Monday:

8 AM – 5 PM

Tuesday:

8 AM – 5 PM

Wednesday:

8 AM – 5 PM

Thursday:

8 AM – 5 PM

Friday:

8 AM – 5 PM

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Book Appointment

CR 210 Location

Find us near the Watson Realty building on Hampton Point Drive. We’re across Old Country Road from the Cimarrone Golf Club. Plenty of free parking is available.